Japan Prepares for Worst with North Korea

Preparing for the worst, Japanese patriot missile launchers have been set in place in northern Japan. They will intercept a planned North Korean missile launch if anything goes wrong.
Japan's ground-based Patriot Advance Capability-3 launchers are finally in place. They face across the expected trajectory of the North Korean missile planned for early April.

Two launchers were set up in a park near the city of Akita and overlooking the Sea of Japan. It is hoped to intercept any dangerous debris in case the controversial missile launch planned by North Korea goes wrong.

Pyongyang says it will launch a communications satellite between April 4-8. Regional powers believe they will actually be a testing a long-range missile, the Taepodong-2.

Both Japan and the United States have also deployed ships with missile defense capabilities in the seas between Japan and North Korea.

North Korea has given international agencies notice that the rocket's planned trajectory should take it over Japan, dropping booster stages to its east and west. Pyongyang has said any attempt to shoot the rocket down would be an act of war.

Japan's constitution does not allow it to intercept a missile if it is clearly heading elsewhere.

Japan, South Korea and the United States have pledged to punish Pyongyang if it goes ahead with the launch. Theyre condemning the act as a violation of U.N. resolutions imposed on the communist state for earlier weapons tests.

In its only previous test flight in 2006, the Taepodong-2 either blew up or was deliberately destroyed after failing seconds after it was launched.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• japan
• north korea
• missile launch
• city of Akita
• Pyongyang
• communications satellite
• Taepodong-2

[SapporoMagokoro]

Shinzo Abe should have stayed in office

[Noobssuckass300]

@kalstn007 But South Korea has American bases and soldiers too....

[RadioOperator01]

@kalstn007 You do understand that if south korea unifies with the north , south korea will economically collapse due to the fact that North korea isn't in a tip top economical state not to mention the north korean civies not being able to adapt to their new... "freedom" due to the 60 years of brainwashing , seems good if you think of it now but check a little forward in the future...and talking about japan you folks have lots of U.S Rangers there so...pay attention :P

[kalstn007]

I say as S.korean, please japan, dont care about our business. SK is enough to fight against NK. you are the guy who will negatively think when we unify. go to hell you slave of america, idiots

[XMMxmmXM]

@Victory4people How would that mean the destruction of Seoul? If the US, the ROK and their allies were to invade North Korea, they would have no defense plan and would be overwhelmed within days. Their training is horrible, their military is horrible, and their leader is so self-deluded that he can't see past his own fucking goals. And on top of that, China wouldn't help because they think the DPRK are assholes.

[Victory4people]

@XMMxmmXM but do you really think that the US and the ROK would risk the destruction of Seoul? The North will never be attacked by the south or the US simply because they cannot. Destroying North Korea would automatically mean the destruction of Seoul which is a 10+million city?

[XMMxmmXM]

@Victory4people Numbers don't count for shit when it comes to modern warfare. NK might have that many soldiers, but like I said, they're horribly equipped. Their artillery isn't going to win a conflict alone. The ROK is a major non-NATO ally of the US, and if they're attacked, the US would most likely bring some backup. NK is nothing but a small, wounded creature hiding in a corner.

[Victory4people]

@XMMxmmXM You are wrong, without the US presence the ROK would be destroyed by the DPRK. KPA has over one million soldiers, and allmost all its artillery pieces are aimed at seoul. Plus the DPRK is a nuclear power while the ROK is not.

[XMMxmmXM]

@3SRBIJACCCC The ROK doesn't need the support of the US, the US is only there because the DPRK is ALSO an enemy of the United States. They're still there because they haven't given anyone a reason to invade them since the armistice that ended the Korean War was signed... yet. The DPRK is so fucking week because they're starving, under-equipped, and where they DO have equipment, it's cold war tech from 30+ years ago. Believe me, the ROK could kick NKs ass blidnfolded with no arms.

[3SRBIJACCCC]

@XMMxmmXM Don't be stupid, DPRK artillery cannons have range to reach SK capital. If DPRK is so weak, then why its still here, if they were bed guys. And if SK is so stronger then DPRK, then why SK needs protection of USA? Oh wait, because SK are spoiled bitches.