North Korea’s Missile Flight

Early in the morning, North Korea fired a ballistic missile. It flew over Hokkaido’s Erimo Cape before dropping into the sea about 1,180 kilometers from the cape.

It has been said that this is the fifth time North Korea has launched a missile through Japan’s airspace. In the past when a man-made satellite was launched, there was no prior warning either. This was utterly vile and inexcusably reckless.

There was no report of falling objects or damage to any ships. However, the missile was a new type, the “Mars 12,” which has the ability to fly a distance of about 2,700 kilometers. This could pass over the entire nation of Japan, and it is said that it has the power to make a surprise attack anywhere at any time on the U.S. military bases in Japan.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe displayed a sense of urgency, saying that there has yet to be a more deeply serious threat, which will considerably harm the peace and safety of the area.

It is natural that Japan cooperates with the United States and South Korea, as well as requests that the U.N. Security Council hold an emergency meeting to strengthen the pressure on North Korea to abandon its development of missiles. I would like to see a discussion addressing ways to strengthen these coordinating efforts, including the subject of China’s oil embargo.

Because of the current situation, there are more talks within Japan of strengthening security. Preparation is vital. At the same time, it is necessary to carefully consider why a missile was fired into Japan’s airspace at this point.

North Korea has been fixated on nuclear missile development, in order to aim a direct hit at the United States and hinder its ability to attack. Improving the system to this end has been North Korea’s ultimate goal. As a step in the plan to compel the United States to cease political countermeasures and pressure aimed at it, North Korea declared in early August that it would have four missiles ready to fire into the sea surrounding the U.S. territory of Guam.

However, there are those who think that North Korea sensed that the risk of inviting retaliation from the United States was too great and took aim at Japan, an ally, instead, in order to raise tensions and show the United States that it will not back down. That way, the results of its efforts could be shown to the citizens of North Korea as well.

If the purpose of the missile launches is to make the United States change its policy, then I would like for excessive reactions to be avoided. It is important for discussions about preparations to take place with a calm analysis of the information and situation.

I do not want President Donald Trump to lose his composure. Perhaps North Korea’s threats were a blatant response to Trump’s remarks about bringing “fire and fury.” Aggressive conduct by the American leader, whether by conventional force or nuclear power, can cause paranoia in the enemy and lead to an accidental confrontation. It would be best to be cautious about this.

Keeping in mind, after the Security Council imposed a new and complete prohibition on North Korean coal exports, a 100,000-people protest took place in Pyongyang. It can be said that a mass display of domestic unity can be seen as a sign of a leader’s sense of impending danger. I would like to see the international community fulfill their obligations, including, of course, China and Russia.