Japan Should Consider Pre-emptive Strikes, LDP Lawmaker Says
"North Korea poses a serious and realistic threat to Japan," former defense chief Gen Nakatani said today in Tokyo at a meeting of Liberal Democratic Party officials. "We must look at active missile defense such as attacking an enemy's territory and bases." Ref. Source 1
Japan to closely watch N. Korea amid reports on finished missile tower
Local Japanese News In English
Japan will keep monitoring developments in North Korea, its top government spokesman Yukio Edano said Monday, amid a news report that North Korea has completed a launch tower at its missile launch facility.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano told a news conference that Japan has continued to gather and analyze information on North Korea's movements "with grave concern" and will continue to do so.
Another news report has said North Korea appears to be ready for a nuclear test.
(AP) Source: newsonjapan.com
Official sends out missile alert instead of earthquake alert:
A Japanese official mistakenly announced the launch of a North Korean missile instead of sending an alert about a strong earthquake that hit western Japan on Saturday morning. Ref. Source 4
Addressing reports of a ballistic missile test by North Korea, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, through a translator, "North Korea's most recent missile launch is absolutely intolerable. North Korea must fully comply with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions."
Abe, who spoke from President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, made a joint statement with Trump.
"I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100%," Trump said. Ref. CNN.