Key points in this article:

• Exclusive interview with a former North Korean weapons development technician by internet opinion channel THE FACT
• North Korea has already completed development of its nuclear missile
• It will soon be too late for Asia unless Japan equips itself with nuclear arms

 
On 30 March, the Japanese government decided to extend part of its sanctions against North Korea for a further two years in reaction to its continuing missile launches.

North Korea launched 4 intermediate-range ballistic missiles simultaneously on 6 March, three of which landed within Japan’s 300km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) near Akita prefecture.

Internet opinion channel THE FACT conducted an exclusive interview of a former elite technician of the North Korean Weapons Development Department, Im Won-chul (alias), to ask him his opinion on this latest missile experiment.

They Have Completed Development of Their Nuclear Missile

The greatest anxiety associated with North Korea’s missile development is the question: “have they developed nuclear missiles?”

“As far as I know, they have already completed their nuclear missile”, said Mr. Im. He added, “I think the [hydrogen bomb] experiment was a success. North Korea’s nuke and missile developments . . . [are] the result of 50 years of ceaseless research and development.”

Mr. Im also commented that North Korea is very close to completing an ICBM that can reach the U.S. mainland:

“Recently North Korea conducted a booster test of their rocket engine, and . . . they almost doubled their boost power compared to before. We can say that they succeeded in test launching a long-range missile. They now have the ability to hit the U.S. mainland.

All they need now is to test if they can exit and then reenter the atmosphere. Many countries have already succeeded in doing this, so North Korea could just introduce China’s technology or Russia’s technology. Many possibilities are now open to them.”

“Obviously They Will Aim These at Japan”

The second great anxiety is whether it is really possible that North Korea will attack Japan.

To this question, Mr. Im said:

“Obviously they will aim these at Japan. Their primary target won’t be Tokyo, but the U.S. military facilities stationed in Japan. The first will be Okinawa.

If a war broke out in the Korean Peninsula, the greatest threat to North Korea would be the U.S. military bases. If Japan holds a neutral stance they won’t attack, but if Japan intervenes, Tokyo will clearly become a target.”

 
This tension-filled situation requires Japan to equip itself with nuclear arms in order to stop North Korea from using theirs.

It’s time for Japan to start thinking seriously about how to counter North Korea’s missiles. When we interviewed a former Japanese Self-Defense Force official he said:

“In defense against North Korea and China’s attacks, we need an underground city for a nuclear shelter, and a jamming system such as an electronic countermeasure (ECM) to fool the missiles.

We need to quicken our developments of technology like railguns. We must become free of the shackles of the exclusively defensive national security policy and hold a level of offensive power. Otherwise we won’t be able to protect our borders or our people. The situation is that serious.”

 
Until now, the U.S. has prevented Japan from possessing nuclear weapons, but the Trump administration wants its allies to ‘protect their own country by themselves’.

Prime Minister Abe must question and challenge President Trump about how the U.S. would feel if they were up against a nuclear possessing dictatorial state with no nuclear weapons of their own, as Japan is now.

Strengthening Japan’s self-defense will lead to the stability and prosperity of all of Asia.

In the end, the thing that will persuade the U.S. is Japan having a political backbone: a declaration that we will do whatever it takes to protect the lives and safety of our people.