Prime Minister Abe calls for stronger defence amid North Korean threats

Tokyo, Sept 12: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said that Japan needed to be able to protect itself in view of the North Korean threats. In a speech to senior officers of the Self-Defence Forces yesterday, he called for boosting the country’s defence in the face of the prevailing threats. A report in "Japan Times" today said Abe has long been advocating stiffening of Japan's military posture, despite the pacifist nature of the Constitution. He said: "No one else will protect you if you don't have the mindset of protecting yourself." "We have to take all appropriate measures against (incidents such as) North Korea's missile launch over Japan," added the Prime Minister, who said he had asked his Defence Minister to draw up a blueprint for a medium-term defence strategy. Abe, who moved quickly after the election of Donald Trump to keep the US President close, said that "strengthening the Japan-US alliance is vital" to ensure regional stability. "We have to deter North Korea's repeated provocative acts," he said, noting recent joint drills with the United States in the Sea of Japan and defense cooperation with like-minded countries including Australia.UNI