Within the Law?

The following picture shows the anger provoked by the launch from neighbouring countries in the region. Is North Korea within its rights to put a satellite into space under the international space treaty? Experts are suggesting that the wording of UN resolutions on missile testing could be open to interpretation which may allow Pyongyang to [...]

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Count-Down

The threat of a rocket launch of has produced sensitive and heated response from three siginificant players in the North East Asian security region – the US, South Korea and neighbouring Japan. The North Koreans have claimed that their action merely represent a wish to place a communications satellite into orbit. Critics believe the real [...]

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Nuke Warheads no April Fool

Its April 1 but its no April Fool in dealing with the nuke warhead threat from North Korea. Pyongyang is believed to have several nuclear warheads capable of being mounted on a missile. This is a considerable concern to Japan which has long been subject to belligerent threats and continued hostile relations with North Korea. [...]

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3 reasons why North Korea is doing Japan a favour

All this talk about another North ballistic missile test is boring! Let me give you 3 reasons why they are doing Japan a favour! It provides Japan with a reason to alter its Self Defence Force status to a normal military power status It provides Japan with important reason for engagement with the United States [...]

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Not happy? Japan in path of rocket launch?

North Korea looks like it will launch a rocket in early April 2009. What does it mean for the safety of the North East Asian region? Will it fly over Japanese airspace? How effective is Japans Ballistic Missile Defense system. These questions are critical for the Japanese – but also ongoing questions of concern. The [...]

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Security and Responsibility

Following World War Two, Japan’s new pacifist constitution renounced the right to wage war and maintain military forces. Yet Japan needed some form of national self defence and therefore a Self-Defense Force was created with a strictly defensive mandate. In recent years, though, the line between defence and offence has become difficult to distinguish.

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