Japan Showcases Long-Range Missile Launcher Ahead of Deployment

ILLUSTRATION/Japanese military/PHOTO Lance Cpl. Jonathan Willcox via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - The Japanese Ministry of Defense held an exhibition of missile launchers and other equipment, at the Ground Self-Defense Force garrison in Kumamoto, southwest Japan, ahead of the deployment of long-range missiles scheduled for March 31.

This first deployment is being made in line with Japan's efforts to acquire counterattack capabilities to hit enemy targets in the event of a national security emergency, marking a change from a purely defense policy based on the country's constitution that rejects war.

As reported by ANTARA from Kyodo, Tuesday, March 17, the missile is an upgraded version of the Type 12 land-to-ship guided missile which has a range of about 1,000 kilometers and is capable of reaching part of the mainland coastline from the Kyushu region.

Amid the most serious security situation the country has faced since World War II, the government said Japan could fire the missile if it judged the enemy had first launched an attack, even before the country suffered damage.

Participants in the exhibition, which featured the Type 12 missile launcher in both conventional and upgraded versions, as well as other equipment such as ammunition carriers, included Kumamoto Prefecture Governor Takashi Kimura and Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Onishi.

A number of residents criticized the Ministry of Defense for not providing an explanation beforehand regarding the deployment, amid concerns that the deployment location could be a target of an attack.

"What the public is worried about and wants to know is different," the mayor told reporters. "The most important thing for the ministry is to provide a careful explanation."

Similarly, the governor said he wanted the ministry to hold an event separate from the exhibition and provide a thorough explanation to residents.

The Ground Self Defense Force did not notify the Kumamoto Prefecture government or the city government of the transport of the new launcher and other equipment to Kengun Garrison in the early hours of March 9.

The head of the Kyushu bureau of the Ministry of Defense, Kazumi Ito, said his party would work closely with the prefectural and municipal governments to provide accurate information to the public.