Hastened by Saber-rattling

United States and North Korea have been escalating mutual exchange of intimidation each other. U.S. indicated that further intimidation by the North might be causing collapse of Kim Jong-un regime. North Korea announced that it was considering launch of four ballistic missiles to Guam. Caught in the saber-rattling of military-oriented nations, Japan began to prepare for unexpected events with deployment of anti-ballistic missiles.

U.S. was successful in passing a resolution for further sanction against North Korea in United Nations Security Council on 5^th of August. China agreed on the resolution, which included embargo on major exporting goods such as coal of North Korea, with a condition of excluding embargo of oil. As China and Russia joined the concerted effort to demand stopping nuclear and missile intimidation, North Korea further isolated in the international society.

Three days later, U.S. President Donald Trump made a further intimidating remark in New Jersey. “North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,” said Trump in his summer recess, which he had not been expected to take that. “They will be met with fire, fury and frankly power the likes of which this world has never seen before.”

It was a few hours later when North Korea announced its consideration of striking around Guam. The North updated the announcement that it was considering four simultaneous launches of mid-range ballistic missiles. U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, warned North Korea not to take action that would lead to the end of the regime and destruction of its people. While U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, told that Washington was not trying to topple Kim Jong-un regime earlier this month, Trump Administration raised its pressure in a week.

Japan could not ignore the information of North Korea that the missiles to Guam would pass over Shimane, Hiroshima and Kochi. Minister of Defense, Itsunori Onodera, said that Japan Self-defense Force could possibly be shooting the missiles with anti-ballistic missile system. Although it is constitutionally prohibited using military force for defending foreign country, Onodera indicated that the case might be regarded as “crisis of existence” of Japan, the concept which Shinzo Abe administration introduced in reinterpretation of the Constitution for exercising collective self-defense right.

Ministry of Defense started deploying PAC-3 anti-ballistic missile launcher in Shimane, Hiroshima, Ehime and Kochi, over where the missiles would be expected to pass, based on the order of destruction issued by Minister of Defense. However, it is argued that Japan can still not shoot down the missiles flying to Guam, if the missiles would touch down on international waters, or if U.S. would not exercise its individual defense right. This is one of the unique discussions as usual in Japan.