Missile Launch in Vulnerability

It could be their version of cerebration for resignation of Minister of Defense of Japan. North Korea launched another ballistic missile late at Friday night and it struck economic exclusive zone of Japan. Minister of Defense, responsible for dealing with military attack on Japan, stepped down with inappropriate handling of an internal document, or of civilian control, on the day. Kim Jong-un regime surely knew the vulnerability of Japan.

Government of Japan announced the fact of missile launch before Saturday dawn. The missile was boosted from Mupyong-ni, located northeast of Pyongyang, and flew to the east for 45 minutes. It is analyzed that the missile was the same kind of one as North Korea launched on 4^th of July, which was a successful test of inter-continental ballistic missile. There is no report of injury or damage on aircraft or ship so far.

It was highly unusual for North Korea to launch ballistic missile in the midnight. Shinzo Abe administration convened urgent meeting of National Security Council at Prime Minister’s Official Residence late at night. Prime Minister Abe delivered three orders: doing the best for collecting information and analyzing the situation followed by speedy and precise information to Japanese people, making sure of reconfirming safety of aircrafts and ships, and being ready for unexpected events.

Government of Japan immediately expressed objection against North Korea through diplomatic route. “Definitely not accepting consecutive intimidation of North Korea, we protested and accused them with the most strong expression,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga. He did not explain the analysis on capability of the missile, requiring further technological analysis.

It was expected that North Korea would make a missile test on Thursday, the day which was sixty-forth anniversary of signing cease-fire agreement in Korean War in 1953. Cerebrating the day as winning a war for liberating homeland, North Korea had memorial events and uplifted nationalism. The official newspaper of North Korean Worker’s Party, Rodong Sinmun, commented that anyone who would try to kill their dignity and right to live could not escape from their merciless preemptive strike. It was a firm hostility against United States.

Acting Minister of Defense, Fumio Kishida, commented that he ordered further warning and collecting information, which could have done by the officers of Ministry of Defense. Kishida concurrently holds the post of Minister for Foreign Affairs after Tomomi Inada stepped down as Minster of Defense on Friday. In other words, Kishida deals with military response against the missile launch, while simultaneously seeking diplomatic channel with North Korea. Caused by political confusion, security policy of Japan does not make good sense.