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Japan issues order to shoot down N Korean rocket

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Yeah, good luck guys. Please don't shoot down a commercial jet by mistake. The Rice Dome.

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

Oh, how very convenient. A threat from the nasty North Korean baddies, just as the election heats up. Now we don't have to talk about abject failures by the DPJ to deal with Fukushima, gross fraud on all sides with reconstruction money, or the decades of incompetence the LDP want us to forget about.

Look! Look over there! It's a baddie! Behind you!

This is facile. But the locals will swallow it up.

13 ( +21 / -9 )

Great, now we are talkin.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Good luck! I hope it does not come to that but good luck!

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Im actually thinking that the Japanese throwing around anti missile missiles will cause more damage than the Nth Korean rocket ever would. And what brainiac would place a missile site in the middle of Tokyo. Especially if the rocket does head over japan it is going to come from the west coast of Japan, wouldnt it make sense to put your missiles there..... Oh wait its Japan, common sense doesnt apply. I also wonder if they will bother to suspend commercial air traffic while this launch is occurring or will they just start firing off missiles into a sky full of aircraft. Remind me not to fly into Japan this month.....

1 ( +10 / -9 )

The Japanese government on Friday issued an order to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it threatens the nation’s territory,

As opposed to allowing it to land on Japanese soil? This is not a standing order regardless of who fired the missile? The public should be more concerned that the Defense Minister has to announce the issuance of this order.

Sheeech....such drama meant solely for public consumption.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

If anything goes wrong on the shoot down, they can just blame the U.S. military.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

"If anything goes wrong on the shoot down, they can just blame the U.S. military."

Or claim it was the Korean rocket that caused the carnage.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

In this day and age really difficult to believe such a manoeuver actually works in diverting attention from food shortage and poverty in the public mind.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Well said Ivan!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

it says that JSDF can shoot it down IF it falls on Japanese Territories. They issue it in advances because the JSDF is not a military, it is severly limited and restricted in what it can do. when JSDF were in Iraq or anywhere else overseas, they are not allowed to open fire EVEN if they were fired upon. the Defense Ministry issue such advanced orders so they can act on-the-fly, when and if it happens.

a couple of years ago, they had to go through the chain of command in real time.

Missile launched -> JSDF detects it -> notify Defense Agency -> notify Cabinet and Prime Minister -> they issued orders -> relay it back to JSDF -> it took quite a long time for orders to come from the top. Since it was created, the JSDF are not allowed to act on their own, but through the govt. That's why the JSDF is not a "military", to Japanese.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"A couple of years ago, they had to go through the chain of commend in real time".

Missile launch - JSDF detects it - notifiy Defense Agency - notify cabinet and Prime Minister - they issue order - relay it to JSDF - SORRY MISSILE JUST LANDED IN TOKYO.

Hope the chain of command has improve since then or else....

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Even if the 'satellite/missile' does fly over Japanese land (heaven forbid).....permission to fire at it will take at least 16 inkans, and go through 3 ministries....before they can take the shot. Never going to happen.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

This makes me feel a true sense of accomplishment being a Military Member stationed with the US Air Force in Japan. Ensuring those SAM-3's make it into the hands of the JASDF, safely and without accidents.

Who is to say that N.Korean Rocket wont stray and accidentally kill innocent people. If the JASDF don't blow it out of the sky I hope the US Navy Aegis equipped cruisers will!

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Ivan, yes, except NK planned it and not the LDP/DPJ.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

self important posturing fools

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

It'll be a good test of Japan's tech, although "if it looks like it's going to fall Japan" is pretty open to interpretation by leaders who want to look more militaristic just before an election. We already know Japan cannot reliably announce when these rockets are launched, can they reliably predict if it'll fall on their land?

They also need to acknowledge they are falling DIRECTLY into NKs play, and if they even fire and miss they are declaring war, if you buy into NK rhetoric. Bad news for those who want tensions in the area to calm down and the US presence out.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

This makes me feel a true sense of accomplishment being a Military Member stationed with the US Air Force in Japan. Ensuring those SAM-3's make it into the hands of the JASDF, safely and without accidents.

Thank you for the important work you and your colleagues are doing to keep Japan safe.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

gaijinfo

self important posturing fools

Referring to me? Not exactly what you meant by your post... It's just nice to see my hard work and dedication, even if it's a small piece of the puzzle, being used for something positive. Rate me down all you want.

smithinjapan

Bad news for those who want tensions in the area to calm down and the US presence out.

To be honest. I think most of the Anti US Military in Japan consist of such a small number of people. I rarely find people who are Anti US Military in Japan and most often find people who appreciate us being here. It just seems the bad news gets publicized so much more than the positive news. I'm not downgrading the complete disregard and unacceptable acts of a very small percentage of the service members stationed in Japan. I just think when you look at the big picture this is what's important.

Maybe this is a chance for Japan to show they can start to take care of themselves.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Hope NK's Rocket Launch will be successful and peace will prevail in this area.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

An absolute waste of USA and Japan taxpayers' money. What goes up, must come down. It is just a silly game by silly men.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

That will show them!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think the launch was planned to coincide with the anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death. That simple.

Now, did Noda take into consideration that Kim Jong Un would make some show of force for that anniversary, when he called the election? I think Ivan is giving Noda more credit than he deserves.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

NK's rossiles, er... mickets? are notoriously wobbly in flight and no-one can be sure for certain where the pieces or the whole thing will actually come down. At the very least this has to be good readiness practice, and there is an off-chance that it might lead to some target practice.

Israel's Iron Dome calculates the flight path of the launched missile and shoots down the ones threatening populated areas, so I would be surprised if these Patriot batteriess do not do the same. Positioning the ones guarding Tokyo near Tokyo would surely give the system extra time for the calculations and defensive launch.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Why are people looking at Japanese action regarding this matter with such negativity? Sure it is election and all but would you rather have them do nothing? Just because NK botched miserably their first attempt doesn't mean it will guarantee the same result again. Frankly i'd rather know at least they are assuring our safety.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Defense Minister Morimoto, please clarify what airspace you mean to defend as Japanese Territory? Does that mean any territories around and near Kuril/Northern Territories, Dokdo/Takeshima, Diayo/Senkaku islands or Mainland Japan only. Or are there any other waterways / airspace / landmass under dispute?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@Lockheart

Why are people looking at Japanese action regarding this matter with such negativity?

Negativity? On this site? You must be very, very new here.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"Missile launch - JSDF detects it - notifiy Defense Agency - notify cabinet and Prime Minister - they issue order - relay it to JSDF - SORRY MISSILE JUST LANDED IN TOKYO.

Hope the chain of command has improve since then or else...."

In one of those links, someone will probably send a fax. Which will be found a few days later.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Why are people looking at Japanese action regarding this matter with such negativity?

Over the past two or three decades, what has the government accomplished that would give you any confidence that it can ensure your safety from dangers real or imagined? Because they have issued an order that should be a standing order against any missile on a course to strike Japan? Their adept diplomacy with China, South Korea and Taiwan over the Senkaku Islands? Their handling of Fukushima Dai-ichi both before and after the disaster? The revolving door of prime ministers? The miserable economy and its continued decline? Really...what gives you confidence in this systemically deficient government?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

The Japanese government on Friday issued an order to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it threatens the nation’s territory.

Oh, good. I was hoping they would rescind the "Hey, anti-rocket guys? If a rocket starts heading down towards us, don't worry about it, it's not a problem." order.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

NK is launching on the otherside facing the Korean bay towards the Yellow Sea. If it was targeting Tokyo it will have to go over ROK in which case I believe the US will shoot it down. If the launch vehicle heads towards Okinawa and starts a downward trajectory around Kyushu then JSDF will shoot it down. If it is still climbing when coming close to Satsuna isles then it is not required to be shot down by JSDF since it will not land on Japan.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

SamuraiBlue, what are Satsuna isles? Do you mean the islands south of Kagoshima, such as Tanegashima?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

As I said elsewhere, even if it IS a ballistic missile test, N.K. will have a self-destruct in place (ESPECIALLY considering their woeful success with this missile configuration in the past). If the missile deviates from the planned path, it should be destroyed by N.K. and the only thing that Japan should be tracking for shoot-down is large pieces of debris. There's not much ANYBODY can do about the small pieces of debris except stay indoors until it falls.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This brouhaha about the N-Korean rocket is ridiculous.

Get real now... all that the most dear leader Kim Yong Un wants is to get NK back in the news, do some serious posturing, and get rewarded with billions of aid in return for promises which he will promptly break when he needs more money.

It is the same old playbook that worked so well for his grad daddy and daddy.... why do we still treat this as news?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Leonardo. Honestly, do you believe sincerely this rocket is that threatening Japan?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Leonard: sorry for the typo.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Leonardo. Honestly, do you believe sincerely this rocket is that threatening Japan?

Considering the fact that N.K. has yet to successfuly perform a launch of this missile configuration after three different tries, surrounding countries are smart to plan for the worst case scenario of debris heading towards them. The danger is certainly greater to the Okinawan prefecture which is closer to the intended path. Tokyo... ettou... the missile is going to have to have a serious guidance problem after climbing a bit in order to cross South Korea and threaten the Tokyo region.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What if Japan does launch a anti-rocket missle? and it misses and hits North Korea? Will it start a War? Is Japan prepared for that contingency?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bluster for the domestic market of frightened sheeple. The missile won't come anywhere near Japan and OF COURSE they would (try to) shoot it down if it did. No need for the big production of rhetoric.

I kind of hope they try to shoot an incompetent NK rocket down and accidentally blow up the Skytree or something.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Silly old self serving men on all sides .....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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