Tora! Tora! Tora!

“If we accept that there is no other option to prevent an attack … there is the view that attacking the launch base of the guided missiles is within the constitutional right of self-defense. We need to deepen discussion,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said.

Link. They don’t sound too happy over how things are going at the U.N. The whole thing smacks of a cry for China’s attention (Fox News is reporting that there could be a Security Council vote as soon as today, and that China may veto what goes to the floor). Still, I really wish Japan hadn’t given the Korean nationalist-socialist types on both sides of the DMZ an excuse to scream, “Japanese invasion!” Concerned nations should say less and do more.

I’m not sure if Abe’s statement precipitated this reaction by South Korean government; if so, it would put things in some perspective. The reaction would then be understandable … if not for South Korea’s spinelessness after the North Koreans actually fired seven missiles in Japan’s general direction.

Speaking of over-the-top Japanese hysteria, here’s a must-see. (HT, the Marmot)

Update: What have we here? According to this report, South Korea’s statement preceded that of Foreign Minister and anointed presidential successor Shinzo Abe’s. That would seem to mean that South Korea was reacting to Japan’s entirely reasonable threat of sanctions, rather its rather dodgy threat of preemptive strikes. Abe, in turn, was reacting out of frustration with China’s two Korean satellites.

All of which means that now, the United States can fold its arms, knit its brows, and feign grave concern as its own ally in the region launches a crash program to build missiles and nuclear weapons. Just like China has done for the last decade, plus….

More:

Blogs of War: Japan Considering Military Strike on North Korea

Captain’s Quarters: “If Japan determines that they need a massive naval expansion to deter Pyongyang, the Chinese will have to outpace two of the world’s most productive Western economies — and they will find that very difficult to do.”
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