© Toru Hanai / ReutersTHAAD & ME
Japan's ruling LDP party has urged the government to
"immediately consider" deploying US anti-missile systems and introducing cruise missiles capable of directly striking North Korean bases in response to a potential attack from Pyongyang. Tokyo has long voiced
concerns about becoming a possible target for Pyongyang, which conducted two nuclear tests in 2016. Three ballistic missiles test-fired by the North Korean military landed off the Japanese coast earlier in March.
The recent escalation of tensions prompted the security panel of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to draw up an "urgent proposal," Former Defense Minister, Itsunori Onodera, said as cited by the
Times of Japan.
"North Korea's provocative acts are
reaching levels our country can simply no longer overlook," the panel said, according to AFP. The group said the government should swiftly look into options to allow striking enemy bases, including putting cruise missiles on service. Japanese authorities were also advised to "immediately consider" the introduction the
US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and shore-based Aegis missile defense systems. "We can't waste a moment to strengthen our ballistic missile defense," the panel said.
Aimed at deterring missile launches from North Korea, THAAD has recently been deployed in South Korea.
China has raised concerns that the system puts its national security at risk.
Moscow also said that the deployment does nothing to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Comment: Assuming Trump meant it when he said he wanted to stop US interventionism one has to ask if these moves are an attempt to take one step backwards - in order to tactically take two steps forward. Or - has he already lost the plot completely??