DATE=9/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238150
TITLE=JAPAN / NORTH KOREAN MISSILES / S
BYLINE=STEVE HERMAN
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: JAPANESE DEFENSE OFFICIALS -- CRITICIZED BY THE PUBLIC
AND OPPOSITION POLITICIANS FOR A DELAYED AND MUTED RESPONSE TO
THE UNPRECEDENTED NORTH KOREAN MISSILE TEST WHICH FLEW OVER THE
JAPANESE MAINLAND -- ARE TALKING TOUGHER NOW. AS STEVE HERMAN
REPORTS, OFFICIALS HERE ARE REMINDING THE PUBLIC, ALTHOUGH
JAPAN'S CONSTITUTION ESPOUSES PACIFISM, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE
COUNTRY IS DEFENSELESS.
TEXT: DEFENSE AGENCY DIRECTOR GENERAL FUKUSHIRO NUKAGA IS
DUSTING OFF THE GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES ON INTERPRETING THE
CONSTITUTION. HE SAYS -- UNDER A 1956 POLICY -- JAPAN CAN
REPLY, IN KIND, TO ANY DIRECT ATTACK.
BUT FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO WAY JAPAN WOULD
CONSIDER BOMBING NORTH KOREA JUST FOR TESTING MISSILES -- EVEN IF
THEY FLY OVER JAPANESE TERRITORY. FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN
SADDAKI NUMATA TELLS V-O-A MR. NUKAGA'S COMMENTS TO REPORTERS
WERE HYPOTHETICAL AND JAPAN CAN ONLY ATTACK A FOREIGN COUNTRY IF
THERE A STATE OF WAR.
IN RECENT DAYS, JAPANESE GOVERNMENT SAID THERE WERE INDICATIONS A
SECOND NORTH KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCH WAS IN THE WORKS. NOW THOSE
SAME OFFICIALS ARE SAYING ANOTHER MISSILE TEST APPEARS LESS
IMMINENT. A SECOND EMERGENCY CABINET MEETING ON THE SUBJECT HAS
BEEN CANCELED, WHILE ANALYSTS GATHER MORE INFORMATION. (SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
04-Sep-98 3:40 AM EDT (0740 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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