Japan sees N Korea missile, China space activity as threat

Japan has raised its caution level about rth Korea’s missile capability, saying in a defense report that country resumed missile tests while taking concrete denuclearization steps and h succeeded in making miniaturized warhes. annual defense paper, approved Friday by Cabinet, underscores Japan’s fear of being targeted by its neighbor. Its reaction to rth’s recent tests contrasts with a low-key response from United States.

“Taking into consideration its techlogical maturity acquired by nuclear tests, rth Korea seems to have alrey achieved miniaturization of warhes to place atop ballistic missiles,” said report, which last year only mentioned it as a possibility.
rth is w aiming to furr increase missile ranges, improve accuracy and operational and surprise attack capability and diversify launching methods, it said.

rth Korea’s military activity “still poses serious and imminent threat” to Japan’s security as well as international peace and safety, it said. Since a second summit between leers of U.S. and rth Korea collapsed without an agreement earlier this year, rth Korea has fired 10 short-range missiles and projectiles deemed new and upgred. 

Re - Pak In Financial Crisis Despite IMF Loan, Aid From China, US: UN

Analysis by Defense Ministry

Citing its analysis, Defense Ministry said y were three new s, including one resembling Russia’s Iskander, and flight distances ranged from 200 kilometers (124 miles) to 600 km (370 miles). It said missiles were new and ir capability upgred, and that Japan needs to furr strengn its missile defenses. rth Korean missiles with those flight ranges could strike targets in Japan and South Korea but t U.S., which has been basis for low-key Trump ministration reaction.

“Naturally, we must be fully prepared to defend our country from rth Korean missile threats, and we will continue to push forward our preventive measures,” Defense Minister Taro Ko said at a news conference Friday.

defense report also ted China’s threat is expanding into from regional seas, and said Japan must prioritize security. China was mentioned as a second significant nation after U.S., ally and most important nation for Japan.

“China, whose defense budget has been rapidly on rise, w is almost neck to neck with United States, becoming major powers in area of defense,” Ko said.

Re - Pak Called Out By US For Staying Mum Over China's Treatment Of Muslims'

Defense officials have said threats from rth Korea and China’s assertiveness mean Japan needs higher deterrence and increased missile defense and fighter capability, including cruise missiles and aircraft carriers. Opponents question if Japan, whose pacifist constitution strictly limits use of force to self-defense, really needs such high-capability arsenals. Under ongoing defense guidelines opted in December, Japan has been bolstering its defense role under its alliance with U.S. and is w launching a unit and measures against cyber and electromagnetic attacks. Japan needs to be well-prepared and to show it can withstand threats, guidelines say. While many countries are developing ir capabilities to ensure ir military superiority, China and Russia have been enhancing capabilities to “impede U.S. and its allies from using outer ,” latest report said.  It said China and Russia are developing missiles and satellites to destroy satellites or interfere with ir communication with ground. “Threats to stable use of are intensifying,” it said.

Re - World Shares Mostly Higher On Hopes For US-China Tre Talks

Allies with shared threats

Even though Japan and South Korea are U.S. allies who face shared threats, defense report gave South Korea a relegated position. ir relations deteriorated rapidly since July over wartime history and export controls that spilled over to defense, prompting Seoul to anunce in late August it would terminate a bilateral military intelligence pact.  In report, Japan urged Seoul to “wisely respond to secure appropriate cooperation between Japan and South Korea, and among Japan, U.S. and South Korea.” intelligence sharing pact h symbolized countries’ three-way security cooperation countering rth Korea and China. Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, citing recent tensions, said it is t inviting South Korea to an international navy review Japan hosts next month.

Re - China Insists It Is 'developing' Despite Being Second-largest Ecomy