Japan goes into crisis mode for possible N Korea missile launch

Thursday 26th March, 03:22 PM JST

TOKYO —

Cities on the northern Japanese coast are setting up hot lines and emergency headquarters and conducting safety drills to prepare for possible falling debris from North Korea’s planned rocket launch, officials said Thursday.

North Korea has said it will launch a communications satellite between April 4-8, and has designated waters off northern Japan as a risk zone for falling fragments.

Japan and its allies have said the launch is intended to also test long-range ballistic missile technology. The government is readying an order to deploy a missile shield, including interceptors, to protect against debris that might fall short and hit Japan. The order is expected Friday.

“We are preparing to do everything we can to protect the safety and lives of the people,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura.

Japan is also set to shift some of the batteries of PAC-3 land-to-air missiles, now in around Tokyo, to the north coast and send a pair of destroyers carrying missile interceptors to nearby waters.

In the meantime, locals are getting ready.

Pyongyang has designated the waters off northern Akita and Iwate prefectures as a risk zone for falling fragments, and officials in Iwate have set up hot lines connecting town offices and increased overnight staffing before and during the scheduled launch dates.

They have also reviewed contingency measures to deal with possible damage.

Some said there was little they could do.

“The problem is that we have no idea if it will hit us or where it will land until it happens,” said prefectural disaster management official Shuzo Koshino. “We won’t have time for evacuation or to do anything. Where do we evacuate to, anyway? We don’t have underground shelters.”

Koshino said many people are concerned about safety, as the launch dates overlap with the beginning of the country’s school year, when many ceremonies are planned for new students.

“We must be prepared, but we don’t want to incite fear among citizens or restrict their activity,” he said. “We just have to believe that the chance of being hit by missile debris is smaller than getting hit by a car. Otherwise, you can’t leave your house.”

In Tottori on Japan’s northwestern coast, officials held an emergency drill Wednesday.

Japan has also warned of additional sanctions against North Korea if the country went ahead with a launch, and the Japanese parliament is set to issue a statement Friday urging the North to scrap the launch, which Japan says violates a U.N. Security Council resolution barring North Korea from any ballistic missile development activity.

Japan imposed tight trade sanctions against Pyongyang in 2006 after it tested ballistic missiles in waters between the two countries and conducted an atomic test. Japan’s current sanctions, which have been extended every six months, are set to expire April 13.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 55 Total Comments Show All

YuriOtani at 05:23 AM JST - 27th March

What would happen if it was determined the missile has an impact point somewhere in the USA or Canada? Does the Norths "warning" extend to this?
DFXDeimos at 05:32 AM JST - 27th March

@ YuriOtani

The the missle would promptly be shot down and Kim would resume his bellicose threats.
sensei258 at 06:02 AM JST - 27th March

The real threat is not from this one particular missile. The bigger threat is from NK's development of long-range missile technology which they could then sell to countries like Iran, who are developing nukes. Do you want a country, who's sworn religious duty is to wipe the U.S. off the map, to be able to drop a nuke in your backyard?
DXXJP at 06:49 AM JST - 27th March

No I do understand I have been in japan for everything they have pulled since 93. I wasn't too worried then and Im not now. As for as Iran Im pretty damn close to them right now. Since when did the US get to dictate who and who cant develop their military power. YES Im an American and whats good for the goose is good for the gander. If everybody would just back off and take 5 mins to understand each other we wouldn't be here. As well cowboy dubya didnt smooth the world frustrations with his axis of evil speech. If your going to poke someone in the eye be ready to get poked back. Right now the US and everyone is ASSUMING this is for military purposes. How many times has the US pulled the bait and switch. Next it will be WMD's in NK, Oh wait thats right we know they have them but there isnt anything worth marching for there.
DFXDeimos at 07:03 AM JST - 27th March

The US dictates who can and can't develop their military force because our military supremecy is the supreme authority from which all other authority is derived.

They are a threat to our and the region's collective peace, security, and prosperity. Since that determination has been made the US will act to protect ours and our allies interests and security.

If they continue forward in a wreckless manner than it will almost certainly lead to a conflict where many lives will be lost but the US and allies will emerge not only victorious, but stronger than before.

If everybody would just back off and take 5 mins to understand each other we wouldn't be here.

That is a very naive world view. Governments have opposing viewpoints and world views that cannot simply be ironed out over a cup of tea.
NoSoEaWe at 07:07 AM JST - 27th March

I wonder if Japan has much to gain politically from it's overreaction to NK as NK itself has from the launch. Probably does.
OssanAmerica at 07:21 AM JST - 27th March

I wonder if Japan has much to gain politically from it's overreaction to >NK as NK itself has from the launch. Probably does.

I disagree. We (The United States) have been trying to get Japan to "re-arm" since the end of the Korean War and little real progress has been made in terms of the constitution. That the majority of the Japanese public prefers to live in their "peaceful" country while the US bears the biggest burden of actual defense in the event of an all out war scenario, is why Japan has been able to avoid doing anything about their constitition and particularly Article 9. If anything, NKorea's continued belligerent attitude and activities is working to alter popular thinking in Japan and forcing them into a direction they have been able to avoid for over 65 years. So I'd hardly call that any kind of gain. The "over-reaction" is what you'd expect from a peace-loving country in their own protective bubble with an idealistic view of the world.
bakabaka at 07:48 AM JST - 27th March

I think all the armchair militarists posting here should be given guns and locked in a room with each other so they can work out their infantile aggressions among themselves.
DFXDeimos at 07:56 AM JST - 27th March

I think all the armchair militarists posting here should be given guns and locked in a room with each other so they can work out their infantile aggressions among themselves.

You are mistaking "militarists" with "realists".
JoeBigs at 08:20 AM JST - 27th March

China controls Dear Leader Monchichi and if China orders Monchichi to stop he will. But whenever China wants or needs something they release Dear Leader Monchichi from his reigns.

Dear Leader Monchichi needs to be put down but China would lose a nice lap dog.

I for one hope he launches, then article 9 will follow that missile out of Japan. Then I wonder how will Monchichi and his masters feels....
grafton at 08:50 AM JST - 27th March

Clause 9 was always going to be both a problem & a useful device for Japan. No, they couldn’t recreate the militarism of the 30s, but to a large degree they didn’t want to, added to which they managed to stay out of Americas tacky little wars by saying you forced this on us so we are keeping it. Just think about all the “fun” South Korea, Australia & New Zealand had in Vietnam, “fun” that Japan managed not to get dragged into, because of clause 9.

I said it before, without Chinas approval NK isn’t marching anywhere & most certainly not through Seoul, because South Korea isn’t the country that is shooting down anything. If Japan &/or the US do shoot this missile down (if they can) NK would have no legitimate right to attack SK & would therefore be faced with a backlash supported by the UN & that gives the US & Japan, and South Korea a free hand.

China today isn’t as it was, today they have far too much to lose in backing dippy NK. Does anybody really believe China is going to put all they have gained over the last 20 years at risk simply to support NK? It will not happen & NK may be run by crazy people, but crazy isn’t the same as stupid. Their dear leader may also be as mad as they make them, but he is surrounded by some very serious people that are very happy to have things stay the way they are, if he orders am attack on anybody he might just take very ill very quickly, he’s not a well man remember.

Hat is happening now might well just be the first steps towards changing the way Asia is today & bringing about a transformation that is in the interests of all except NK. My money is on China pushing NK to fire this missile so that they can disown them leaving China with clean hands & no nasty little nutter living next door.
Ausralian361 at 08:48 PM JST - 27th March

I dont know if I would be taking this calmly if I was Japanese. North Korea indeed does play a dangerous game and I wouldnt be surprised if North Korea was actually planning on bombing Japan. But I suppose that if Kim Jong iL and the rest of North Korea dont want a massive problem on their hands they better not stuff it up.
YuriOtani at 04:07 AM JST - 28th March

If they wish to place a satellite into orbit they should have the Chinese do it for them. They could do it for a lot less than the bankrupt North Korea! There would also be no trouble with other countries. Thus the satellite is just an excuse on their part.
teleprompter at 12:44 AM JST - 30th March

According to Sankei Shimbun Iran is in on it:

"A group of Iranian missile experts is in North Korea to help Pyongyang prepare for a rocket launch, Japan's Sankei Shimbun newspaper reported on Sunday.

"North Korea has said it will launch a communications satellite over northern Japan between April 4 and 8, and the report said the 15-strong Iranian delegation had been in the country since the beginning of this month.

"It includes senior officials with Iranian rocket and satellite producer Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, the daily said, quoting unnamed sources.

"The Iranians brought a letter from their President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il stressing the importance of cooperating on space technology, it added.

"The United States and its Asian allies suspect North Korea is using the launch as a cover for a long-range missile test." http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iJHPoEJN1jLhO9owifTNk3Wd7lgg
OssanAmerica at 11:52 PM JST - 30th March

"North Korea has said it will launch a communications satellite over >northern Japan between April 4 and 8, and the report said the 15-strong >Iranian delegation had been in the country since the beginning of this >month.

It's kind of refreshing that there's very little ambiguity as to who our "enemies" are.