The Defense Ministry indicated Friday that it was willing to consider having the capability to attack enemy bases, possibly including missile facilities in North Korea.
Japan needs to strengthen its comprehensive capability to respond to ballistic missile attacks, the ministry said in an interim report on a new basic defense program.
Striking power is one thing that will be considered, a ministry official said, elaborating on what comprehensive capability means.
The report was submitted to Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera.
The ministry is working to draw up the new program by the end of this year.
The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decided in January to review the current program, which was adopted by a previous administration in 2010.
In the interim report, the ministry also noted the need to be better prepared to protect important facilities in the country, including nuclear power plants and bases of the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military.
The possibility of Japan facing guerrilla and special-forces attacks simultaneously with missile attacks cannot be ruled out, the report pointed out.
On the defense of remote islands, including the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, which are also claimed by China, the ministry said it plans to improve the SDFs amphibious capabilities, develop supply bases and use private-sector logistics networks.
The report underlined the necessity of high-altitude drone operations for detecting unusual situations in wider areas surrounding Japan at an early stage. The ministrys budget for fiscal 2013, ending in March next year, includes funds to study the introduction of the U.S. militarys Global Hawk drone.
Defense Ministry willing to consider attack capability - The Japan News
Japan needs to strengthen its comprehensive capability to respond to ballistic missile attacks, the ministry said in an interim report on a new basic defense program.
Striking power is one thing that will be considered, a ministry official said, elaborating on what comprehensive capability means.
The report was submitted to Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera.
The ministry is working to draw up the new program by the end of this year.
The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decided in January to review the current program, which was adopted by a previous administration in 2010.
In the interim report, the ministry also noted the need to be better prepared to protect important facilities in the country, including nuclear power plants and bases of the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military.
The possibility of Japan facing guerrilla and special-forces attacks simultaneously with missile attacks cannot be ruled out, the report pointed out.
On the defense of remote islands, including the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, which are also claimed by China, the ministry said it plans to improve the SDFs amphibious capabilities, develop supply bases and use private-sector logistics networks.
The report underlined the necessity of high-altitude drone operations for detecting unusual situations in wider areas surrounding Japan at an early stage. The ministrys budget for fiscal 2013, ending in March next year, includes funds to study the introduction of the U.S. militarys Global Hawk drone.
Defense Ministry willing to consider attack capability - The Japan News
