DATE=3/17/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-246738 TITLE=JAPAN / DEFENSE (L-ONLY) BYLINE=STEVE HERMAN DATELINE=TOKYO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: JAPAN'S PARLIAMENT IS IN THE MIDST OF INTENSE DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER THE COUNTRY SHOULD GO AHEAD WITH RESEARCH ON A THEATER MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM . AS STEVE HERMAN REPORTS FROM TOKYO, JAPANESE OFFICIALS SAY A SYSTEM TO DEFEND THE NATION AGAINST ATTACK MAY BE NECESSARY, BUT ARE ALSO TRYING TO CALM NEIGHBORS' FEARS THAT IT MIGHT HAVE OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES. TEXT: BECAUSE OF LINGERING ASIAN SUSPICIONS ABOUT JAPAN'S LEGACY OF MILITARISM, JAPANESE STATEMENTS ABOUT DEFENSE MATTERS ARE USUALLY CAREFULLY WORDED. BUT PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI AND HIS FOREIGN MINISTER, MASAHIKO KOMURA, ARE MAKING SOME UNUSUALLY BLUNT STATEMENTS IN PARLIAMENT IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS ABOUT AN AMERICAN-PROPOSED THEATER MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM OR T-M-D. THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS THAT IN LIGHT OF RECENT ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION -- A REFERENCE TO THE LAUNCH OF A THREE-STAGE NORTH KOREAN ROCKET WHICH FLEW OVER JAPAN LAST AUGUST -- TOKYO MUST CARRY OUT RESEARCH ON A T-M-D. THE FOREIGN MINISTER ADDS JAPAN MUST HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DEFENSE AGAINST BALLISTIC MISSILE ATTACKS. BOTH OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN QUICK TO ADD JAPAN MUST LISTEN TO CONCERNS FROM NERVOUS NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY CHINA AND THE TWO KOREA'S. THOSE NATIONS RESPONDED SHARPLY TO SUGGESTIONS EARLIER THIS MONTH FROM JAPAN'S DEFENSE MINISTER , THAT TOKYO MIGHT CONSIDER PREEMPTIVE STRIKES AGAINST A MISSILE THREAT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. FOREIGN MINISTER KOMURA TOLD PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAY, THE T-M-D WOULD BE PURELY DEFENSIVE AND WILL NEVER POSE ANY MILITARY THREAT TO OTHER COUNTRIES. THE PARLIAMENT DEBATE HERE TOOK PLACE AS WORD CAME FROM NEW YORK OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NORTH KOREA, THAT WOULD ALLOW AMERICAN INSPECTORS TO VISIT SUSPECTED NUCLEAR WEAPONS SITES NORTHWEST OF PYONGYANG. IN RETURN, WASHINGTON IS PROMISING TO SEND EXPERTS TO HELP INCREASE THE POTATO HARVEST IN THE FAMINE-STRICKEN COUNTRY. JAPANESE OFFICIALS ARE BREATHING A SIGH OF A RELIEF AND WELCOMING THE AGREEMENT, HOPING THAT MIGHT MEAN NORTH KOREA WILL NOT CARRY OUT ANOTHER PROVOCATIVE BALLISTIC MISSILE TEST, WHICH WOULD FURTHER HEAT UP DEBATE HERE ABOUT REGIONAL SECURITY. (SIGNED) NEB/SH/FC 17-Mar-99 3:46 AM EST (0846 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
