Abe seeks strengthening defense to deter North Korea

September 11, 2017

TOKYO- Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe underscored on Monday the importance of beefing up the country's defense capabilities to cope with North Korea's missile and nuclear threats. Referring to repeated provocations by North Korea, including the latest ballistic missile firing over Japan and sixth nuclear test, Abe stressed at a meeting with high-ranking defense officials that "threats (from the reclusive nation) must be contained." "Together with the United States, Japan should take concrete steps to improve its defense capabilities," the prime minister said. Abe also suggested that Japan needs always to examine the future adequacy of its basic defense program. Last month, he instructed Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera to review the current program, compiled in December 2013. The day's meeting was joined by Onodera, Vice Defense Minister Katashi Toyota, Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano, chief of staff of the Self-Defense Forces, and other senior SDF officials. Former defense ministers, including Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, also took part in the meeting. House of Representatives lawmaker Tomomi Inada did not appear, however, after she quit the post in late July to take the blame for a cover-up of daily activity logs of SDF peacekeeping troops in South Sudan. Meanwhile Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Monday stressed the need for the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on North Korea at an early stage, in response to the country's recent nuclear test. "Early adoption of a new resolution, including tough punishments, is important," Suga told a press conference. Jiji Press