Japan Ready to Discuss Missile Defenses

Defense Secretary Les Aspin was told here Tuesday that Japan faces possible policy roadblocks in joining with the United States to develop an anti-missile defense system but wants to start consultations on the project as soon as possible.

Keisuke Nakanishi, director of Japan’s Defense Agency, made the statement to Aspin shortly after the secretary arrived for a 24-hour visit. He added that Japan is “deeply interested” in a system to track and destroy missiles in flight, a U.S. official said.

Before Japan can accept a U.S. invitation tendered last May to join a development program, Nakanishi said, his government will have to determine whether such a system falls within the definition of “self-defense” because of a constitutional ban on the use of force to settle international disputes. The government also will have to decide whether a parliamentary resolution banning military uses of space will allow Japan’s participation.

The defense director, however, proposed that the two sides start discussions on technical details as soon as possible, without waiting for the political judgments.

Nakanishi told Parliament on Tuesday morning, shortly before Aspin arrived, that Japan must start emphasizing anti-missile defenses to cope with the development of missiles and nuclear weapons by North Korea. Last May, North Korea successfully test-launched a missile that could reach Osaka.

Shortly before leaving for Seoul, Aspin said at a news conference today that Washington is willing either to sell Japan a new-generation American anti-missile system after the United States develops it alone or to develop the new system cooperatively with Japan.

Joint development would give Japan access to U.S. missile defense know-how in exchange for Japanese technologies useful in the production of both civilian and military goods.

Aspin also declared that the North Koreans must “play by the rules. . . .”

“They must permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct inspections. . . . They must enter into a substantial dialogue with (South) Korea on the nuclear issue,” he said.

In meetings with Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa and Foreign Minister Tsutomu Hata, Aspin agreed that the United States and Japan should consult closely on whether to seek U.N. sanctions against North Korea if the Communist country refuses to submit to international inspections of its nuclear facilities.

Japan has given no public indication of whether it would support such sanctions, which could force it to cut off a large flow of funds to North Korea donated by Korean residents here who support the Pyongyang government.