NKorea nukes, missiles top concerns in Japan defense review

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2016, file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, reviews members of Japan Self-Defense Forces during a parade of the Self-Defense Forces Day at Asaka Base in Asaka, north of Tokyo. Japan’s latest defense white paper says the threat from North Korea has reached a “new stage” now that the country has acquired the capability to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile and its nuclear weapons program has advanced. The escalation of its missile development, though apparently mainly aimed at extending their range to the mainland U.S., has aided Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s effort to beef up the role of Japan’s military and its missile defenses. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File) FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2016, file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, reviews members of Japan Self-Defense Forces during a parade of the Self-Defense Forces Day at Asaka Base in Asaka, north of Tokyo. Japan’s latest defense white paper says the threat from North Korea has reached a “new stage” now that the country has acquired the capability to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile and its nuclear weapons program has advanced. The escalation of its missile development, though apparently mainly aimed at extending their range to the mainland U.S., has aided Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s effort to beef up the role of Japan’s military and its missile defenses. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

By Associated Press August 7, 2017 3 min read

TOKYO (AP) – The threat to Japan from North Korea has reached a “new stage” now that the country is capable of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile and its nuclear weapons program has advanced, a defense ministry report said Tuesday.

North Korea was the main concern cited as Japan’s Cabinet approved the report, less than two weeks after the North test-fired a second ICBM that analysts say has a range that could include more of the U.S. mainland, including Los Angeles and Chicago.

The security review came just a week after Itsunori Onodera, who was defense minister in 2012-2014, resumed that job when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revamped his Cabinet after a slew of politically costly scandals.

Onodera told reporters Friday he planned to update Japan’s defense guidelines to reflect the threat from the North, suggesting he may seek an offensive missile capability.

“North Korea’s missile launches have escalated tensions both in terms of quality and quantity. I would like to study if our current missile defense is sufficient just with the Aegis destroyers and (surface-to-air) PAC 3,” said Onodera, who headed a ruling party study in March that called for beefing up Japan’s missile response capability.