Japan and a Pre Emptive Strike Against N.Korea?

Question

Could they pull it off?

Answer 1

Nope.

Nor would they even consider it.

The Japanese constitution is VERY strict about its armed forces (JSDF) being used for DEFENCE only.

The country has been torn about the use of its military in incidents other than strict self-defence such as Iraq & the war on terror, and even the Kobe Earthquake. In both cases a large percentage of the population was vehemetly opposed to the use of JSDF machinery and/or personnel - and in the case of Kobe I'm talking about while thousands of Japanese lay dying under earthquake destroyed buildings in a Japanese city ! (Not defence, can't do it!)

The world (well, the USA and its friends) has been pretty down on Japan and its lack of direct involvement in Kuwait, Afghanistan & Iraq, (huge financial donors but no arms or troops) and Japan has always sought protection in its 'Peace Constitution'. Any action which could be considered offensive would require not just a change in law, but in constitution... which in this case would be impossible. (About the best thing in the constitution is this part total renunciation of war!) Check out the constitution at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Japan
And I would guess that even a movement toward changing the constitution would be political suicide for Japan's long-ruling LDP. They just don't want to go there because they know it would be their end.

Perhaps the most important reason though is something else entirely. Like South Korea but different to the US, there is no doubt at all that they lie within missle range of North Korea ! And I don't think there is much doubt that the Beloved Leader would retaliate in spades if seriously attacked...

Answer 2

Great idea. Absolutely ensures a nuclear conflict in Asia.

Could they succeed? Well, the Japanese military is supported by the US, and they certainly have the technology to hit a country a few hundred miles away. Even if Japan doesn't have nukes, it has other high explosives.

Granted, if North Korea does have nuclear weapons like it says it does, Japan will have the distinction of being the only country in the world to get attacked by atomic/nuclear weapons not once but twice.

But, at least, that ends the waiting around to see if there's going to be a WW-III.

Answer 3

Assuming the Japanese Diet removes that bothersome provision in their constitution which prohibits aggressive military action, then Japan could then seriously consider such an option. Whether they can remains to be seen...while I do not doubt that Japan's Air SDF is generously equipped with very modern fighter aircraft and a sufficent support network, they do not have any sufficent air-to-ground weapons like laser-guided bombs and JDAMs or missiles like the JASSM which could guarantee success with such a strike. Their fighters are only armed with anti-ship missiles and free-fall bombs as of this moment. Unless they have some new yet-undisclosed weapons for such purposes then the threat of a Jap preemptive strike is just blunt counter saber-rattling by the Japs.

Answer 4

They might be able to pull it off, but they are still not a big military power (by choice). I don't know if I would want them to do it. We could do it quite easily, but I do not see a big urgency to do it.

Either way, unlike what half the bozos here have said, a pre-emptive strike would not lead to nuclear war, it would probably lead to no aggresive action by N. Korea at all. If N. Korea did actually launch a nuke, they are finished, game over for them.

Lil' ill might be crazy, but he knows that his power lies in the threat of a nuclear strike, once unleashed the entire world turns against him.

Answer 5

well, it's not a good idea. That will cause problems for the rest of the world. China is the biggest problem right now, China could squish Japan like a grape which means we would have to get involved, which would bring Russia into it, that would cause the rest of the UN to be forced to take a side, and that would be WW III

Answer 6

Japan is going to use the same restraint the rest of their world is using. I haven't heard or seen anything that would warrant anyone doing a preemptive strike.

Answer 7

I think Japan could do it. It might taks a little unofficial help from the USA.

Answer 8

Yes they could, because we are obligated to do it for them since we have an agreement to handle the military issues for them because they dont have any kind of military to speak of.

Answer 9

without getting nuked? i think not.

thank god that the pacific ocean is what separates us from the N.Koreans and not just the Sea of Japan!

Answer 10

the usa uses preemptive atacks when it feels treatened, i say japan is TRULY treatened by n. korea.. i say if they dont do it the us will in the future anyways, we are getting the hang of it after afganistan and iraq,.