Military action against suspicious ships leaves Japan shaken
March 24, 1999
Web posted at: 5:08 AM EST
TOKYO (AP) -- The
chase of two suspected spy
ships that intruded into
Japan's waters and then fled
toward North Korea has
deeply alarmed many here,
renewing calls today for
Japan to bolster its defense
capabilities.
The two ships, first spotted early Tuesday, were pursued through Japanese
waters for about 24 hours by the coast guard and navy destroyers, which
repeatedly fired warning shots. It was Japan's first such use of military ships
since World War II.
Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi defended the dispatch of the military ships and
said further study was needed for future response to intruders. Last week,
Japan's Parliament began debate on bills to strengthen the country's military
alliance with the United States.
"Although we could not stop or inspect the suspicious ships, it was significant
in clarifying our nation's commitment to security," Obuchi said. The chase
was called off early today after the ships left Japanese waters.
Officials said they could not positively identify the nationality of the boats but
said they bore false names, had suspicious antennas, no visible fishing gear
and no national flags. Tokyo officials said they believed the ships were from
North Korea.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Tokyo will press for North Korea
to hand the ships over if they enter North Korea's waters. Officials refused
to confirm a report by the Kyodo News agency that Japanese radar tracked
the vessels entering North Korean waters today.
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said the United States was "seriously
concerned" about the incursion of the two ships into Japanese waters. "We
are working together with Japan to obtain more information," it said.
In Washington, Defense Department
spokesman Kenneth Bacon said the United
States had made surveillance aircraft
available to Japan in tracking the ships.
South Korea also said today it was closely
monitoring the situation. South Korean
military officials said they have no
information on the mysterious ships.
There was no response for North Korea.
Japan is bound by a pacifist constitution
that calls for avoiding the use of force
unless it is clearly in self defense. Obuchi
said the destroyers were called upon because the coast guard vessels were
too slow.
Tokyo is wary of displaying its military powers for fear of angering its Asian
neighbors, many of whom harbor bitter memories of World War II.
But since North Korea fired a missile over Japan that landed in the Pacific
Ocean last summer, the Japanese are increasingly worried about their
vulnerability.
Defense Agency head Hosei Norota said the destroyers gave up the pursuit
because of fears the chase could "incite the intruders and escalate the
situation."
He noted that before the ships were called off, Japanese radar detected
aircraft leaving a base in North Korea and heading toward the ships.
>>>There've been speculation recently about action coordinated among
>>>Iraq, Serbia, North Korea, etc. to test an overextended West. |
