Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says he has ‘no plan’ to consider enabling forces to strike overseas despite North Korea missile tests
His comments followed a ceremony in Hiroshima to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the US atomic bombing in the second world war
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he has “no plan” to consider allowing Japan’s Self-Defence Forces the ability to strike overseas targets to deal with North Korean ballistic missiles.
The prime minister also said on Sunday that Japan’s defence programme guidelines need to be reviewed to reflect North Korea’s development of intercontinental ballistic missiles and other changes in the security environment.
“We are relying on the United States for strike ability within the Japan-US division of roles,” Abe told a press conference in Hiroshima. “I have no plan to specifically consider (the issue) at this time.”
Abe has instructed Onodera, following a cabinet reshuffle last week, to re-examine Japan’s defence programme guidelines, which were approved in December 2013.
The guidelines set defence capability targets that Japan should achieve before 2023.
