Japan could legally intercept a Guam-bound N Korean missile: Onodera

Maybe that's what NK wants Japan to do so it gives Kim, in his warped mind, a reason to attack Japan.

It will be interesting to see what Japan and the US do to this supposed Guam missile test from NK seeing as it passes directly over the mainland.

He said Japan in that case can exercise the right to "collective" self-defense and activate the Aegis destroyer ship-to-air missile defense system.

Are all the chess pieces arranged on the board? Good. Let the game commence!

I guess we couldn't expect our local wise men not to get involved in the ridiculous exchanges going on between DT and KJU.

Onodera said Japan in that case can exercise the right to "collective" self-defense and activate the Aegis destroyer ship-to-air missile defense system.

...

Experts say Japan does not currently have the capability to shoot down a missile flying over its territory headed for Guam.

So, this is a case of a politician blowing hot air. Maybe he could use that hot air to knock down the missiles?

So, this is a case of a politician blowing hot air. Maybe he could use that hot air to knock down the missiles?

I think he's talking about the legality of it not the ability to do it.

Ah yes, this is the cunningly worded, "collective self-defense," that slippery Abe was going on about.

Haaa, yes I know, but it's meaningless when the experts points it that it's not actually possible now.

Well, I'm glad to read that it is perfectly within the rights, legality speaking, for Japan to be able to defend the U.S. or it's allies when under attack, i.e, intercept a missile intended for Guam while it is still over Japanese airspace. Now whether it has the technical ability, that's why deployment of THAAD is important.

Now China has protested over deployment of THAAD. Who cares if China protests! A country has the fundamental right to protect itself and its allies.

serendipitous1Today 04:31 pm JST

Maybe that's what NK wants Japan to do so it gives Kim, in his warped mind, a reason to attack Japan.

NK won't attack anyone, the diriging class has been educated abroad, they are not indoctrinated, and I don't believe they are delusional, they know that any international military action will bring their reign to an end.

So what are the rules of engagement? Can local missile battery officers launch on their own initiative, if certain conditions are met, or do they have go through the chain of command to Kasumigaseki? In which case, it will have flown right on past, landed, and maybe exploded while they are waiting for an answer.

Real tired of reading this bombastic BS.

Maybe I'm just another overly optomistic American, can we have fat boy & Goldfinger walk around Hiroshima? Before they start this?

Cogito Ergo SumToday 08:49 pm JSTReal tired of reading this bombastic BS.

Nothing bombastic about it. If you're not familiar with parliamentary sessions in Japan a minister is asked a question and replies. In this instance the Min of Def was asked about the legality of shooting down a missile over Japan heading for a US territory. And he answered. Nothing more nothing less.

Even without collective self-defense, Japan should still be able to shoot down missiles over its own territory as missiles are dangerous and anything could happen, threatening its own security. I mean, if north korean troops were gonna march/swim to Guam, but marched through Japan on the way, pretty sure that would violate its territory and call for regular self-defense.

Maybe if we ignore the bloke, he'll go away. Nobody pay any attention to the man with the bad haircut (could apply to both Jim Jong un and trump).

Bury your heads in the sand, talk crap about all the politicians and it will all go away...and you can live in Never-Never Land.

Forget Guam, they have enough defenses of their own. Latest reports suggest NK already has 30-60 Nuclear capable Missiles, so Japan we need to use its own resources to defend itself. Mid-August will be the testing time. If they do launch an attack on Guam, you can bet they will also simultaneously launch an attack upon other targets - otherwise why wait for their launch sites to be subsequently taken out...

mmwkdwToday 01:16 am . If they do launch an attack on Guam, you can bet they will also simultaneously launch an attack upon other targets

Why would they? A four missile launch that flies over Japan and lands near Guam siply sends another threatening message and further provokes the U.S. That is a far cry from launching simultaneous attacks on multiple targets. Besides, NK is saying they will land "near" Guam, not on it. How "near" and how the U.S. reacts to it will determine if it is an "attack" on the U.S.

Where does one start with an article regarding the 'legality' of participating in a war? The idea that 'Law' makes any difference at all when two crazed swarms of Human monkeys, one an enormous armed to the teeth predator and the other a small Chihuahua like 'barker', jump up and start beating their chests at each other is insanely ludicrous and absurd. If we, as animals, were actually sane, our first response when situations like this arose would be to take our respective 'leaders' (including their 'sponsors') and put then in a deep hole together somewhere and forget about them and pick some new ones who had less to gain from mass murder. But, instead, we spend time ignoring the obvious and considering things as inanely insane as are detailed in this article. Yet again I must suggest that the appellation Homo 'sapiens' is tragically laughable and that Homo 'demens' much more descriptive of our most salient characteristics as an animal species.

Japan has been purchasing the most powerful uranium from France is ready to sell to Japan. Maybe Japan has anti N Korea missile weapons ready to use now? Japan had to keep mouth sht because it dos not want to agotate Trump and Japanese folks. Try to figure why Japan hadn't been complained to Kim.

Onodera probably wants to use right to defense clause. He, must have Abe's permission to comment. Keep big mouth Trump, in dark? Japan will not let Trump take victory but I think Japan is ready to protect Japan now.

Many anti Abe folks will complain helping Guam is not self defense. So, Japanese had to explain legality.

The North Korean missle threat was totally absurd, their missiles flew into space was because those missles were carrying dummies. If a real warhead is to be mounted in the payload, that missile will flew into earth or the ocean. North Korea simply don't have that technology to launch a live warhead ballistic missile! And accuracy was out of question!  "K.J." is buying time fighting for his throne by flying missiles and made news to his clique for support, his game cant play if you guys ignore him!

his game cant play if you guys ignore him!

I used to think that way he too until he fired a missile close enough to be seen from Japan. This guy demands attention. Well, maybe the world should give him all the attention he can handle. Nothing else works with this guy.

The only good that has come out of this current crisis is a change in the security relationship between Japan and the US. It used to be that Japan would not commit to help defend the US. That appears to have changed with this latest announcement.

It seems illogical but "military intelligence" says it is better to watch it in order to learn about what it can do. Guess what, it goes higher than the International Space Station and it splashes within 300 miles of Japan. Perhaps it would be better, as suggested, to destroy it in the first 20 seconds after launch just to let NK know it can be done.

Unless Kim is insane he will never launch a first strike, as that would be the end of his country, his reign and his life.

I find it astonishing that anyone is bothered about, or questioning, the 'legality' (however that is defined) of shooting down a nuclear missile!

Guam residents  were told don't get out from home if missile is shot into sea.   My advice. If blast on sea,, don't watch mushroom cloud.