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Released on 2012-10-19 08:00 GMT

Email-ID 1208284
Date 2009-03-03 15:53:48
Or it could succeed...and whatever happens with DPRK, the validity of the
technology is further established, which freaks the Russians out deep down
because they can't do anything about it in the very long term...though it
is still decades and decades from being able to halt a Russian nuclear

Reva Bhalla wrote:

this is why i was asking if US would try to restrain Japan from
when the US is in all these big BMD talks with Russia right now, would
it really want Japan to attempt a test when it could fail? seems like
that would really screw with the negotiations (in addition to the threat
rodger describes below of triggering a korean war)
On Mar 3, 2009, at 8:48 AM, Rodger Baker wrote:

DPRK may have intentionally scratched the launch. This time around it
is Japan threatening. They are doing so largely to try to pressure
China into restraining North Korea - if Japan tests BMD and it works,
what does that mean to China's balance with Japan in the region? So
Japan expects China to block North Korea so Japan cant test BMD
actively. Will Japan test it? Im not sure. ROK certainly doesn't want
anyone to shoot it down and risk burning seoul. Would North Korea
declare war if their rocket were shot down? they say they would. could
they win the war? no. could the regime survive internally if they dont
respond? unclear, but possibly not. they lose all foreign leverage if
that happens, and that throws off the domestic balance. so really, who
tests whose mettle here? the decision to shoot it down is complicated
and involves not just japan, or japan and the usa, but at least china
and ROK, if not taiwan (implications of effective BMD test by Japan
has a big impact on China's missile plans), and even Russia. Will US
let Japan take the chance of triggering a new Korean War while US has
no spare troops? Or do Japan and USA really think DPRK is ultimately
bluffing, or China would itnervene and seal up DPRK?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nate Hughes" <>
To: "Analyst List" <>
Chongqing / Hong Kong / Urumqi
Subject: Re: Discussion - Japan to deploy interceptor in
Sea of Japan to counter N. Korea

the ballistic path of a satellite launch would simply overfly Japan,

They're talking about parking them in the Sea of Japan.

Peter Zeihan wrote:



Nate Hughes wrote:

So the discussion of the U.S. attempting an intercept is mostly
plate right now. But the Japanese have also fielded our
Aegis/SM-3 interceptor system (the one the U.S. used to bring
down the satellite last year). What is their calculus for
attempting an intercept?


Japan plans to deploy an Aegis-equipped destroyer carrying the
a possible North Korean missile launch in case it is aimed at
Japan, defense sources said Tuesday.
North Korea says it is preparing to launch a satellite but
Japan's missile defense guideline provides that the defense
minister may order an intercept when a rocket to launch a
satellite is feared to fall onto Japanese soil or into Japanese
territorial waters.
senior Maritime Self-Defense Force officer, referring to a
scenario in which a missile or a rocket is launched and judged
headed for Japan.
But Japan could face a dilemma as friction with North Korea
would heighten if Japan dared intercept, according to the
Japan is considering sending the Kongou and the Chokai --
the two SM-3 interceptor-carrying ships among Japan's six
as a precautionary measure in cooperation with the U.S. military,
a senior Defense Ministry official said.
The steps would be taken based on a provision on missile
interception in the Self-Defense Forces Law added in a 2005
The government is to decide on an intercept under the
provision, which offers several scenarios for doing so.
minister may tender the authority to intercept to the defense
minister via a Cabinet meeting and a commander may carry out the
If there is no tangible sign but there is a development that
calls for caution, the defense minister may put SDF units on
standby for a certain period and a commander may carry out an
interception in the event of a launch.
North Korea is said possibly to be preparing to launch an
In August 1998, when North Korea fired what is believed to
and into the Pacific Ocean, Pyongyang claimed it had successfully
test-launched a satellite.
had no ability to intercept it.
The SM-3 interceptor launched from an Aegis destroyer covers
the upper range of a missile shield and is designed to intercept
incoming missiles outside of the earth's atmosphere.
The ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability 3 is
responsible for the lower range of the shield and is designed to
intercept incoming missiles the SM-3 misses.
but the other from the Chokai in November last year was a


Chris Farnham
Beijing Correspondent , STRATFOR
China Mobile: (86) 1581 1579142
Nathan Hughes
Military Analyst
512.744.4300 ext. 4102


Chris Farnham
Beijing Correspondent , STRATFOR
China Mobile: (86) 1581 1579142