(NSI News Source Info) YOKOSUKA, Japan - March 23, 2009: Japan must build its defence capabilities and strengthen its alliance with the United States, Prime Minister Taro Aso said on Sunday, ahead of a planned rocket launch by North Korea. 
Japan has one of the world's best-funded armed forces. The Japan Self-Defense Forces, or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the military forces in Japan that were established after the end of the post-World War II US occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the forces were confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed abroad. In recent years, they have been engaged in international peacekeeping operations. Recent tensions, particularly with North Korea and China, have reignited the debate over the status of the SDF and its relation to society.
Aso cited the threat from North Korea, which has announced plans to launch a communications satellite next month in a move seen by the United States, Japan and South Korea as a cover for a long-range missile test.
"You must be well aware that we face many issues in the Asia-Pacific region, including North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development," Aso told students at a graduation ceremony at the National Defense Academy.
"For us to assure peace and stability in Japan, it is extremely important to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance as well as to make its own efforts for self defence."
Under its US-imposed 1947 pacifist constitution, Japan renounced using or threatening force in international disputes. It nonetheless has one of the world's best-funded militaries, the Self-Defence Forces (SDF).
Japan is developing a missile defence system with the United States.
The government has said it is considering re-positioning land and sea-based interceptor missiles so they can shoot down a North Korean rocket if it threatens to hit its territory.
Pyongyang has said it would regard interception as an act of war.
Earlier this month the conservative Aso sent two Japanese warships for an anti-piracy mission off Somalia in which the nation's armed forces could face combat abroad for the first time since World War II.
Japan has one of the world's best-funded armed forces. The Japan Self-Defense Forces, or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the military forces in Japan that were established after the end of the post-World War II US occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the forces were confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed abroad. In recent years, they have been engaged in international peacekeeping operations. Recent tensions, particularly with North Korea and China, have reignited the debate over the status of the SDF and its relation to society.
Aso cited the threat from North Korea, which has announced plans to launch a communications satellite next month in a move seen by the United States, Japan and South Korea as a cover for a long-range missile test.
"You must be well aware that we face many issues in the Asia-Pacific region, including North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development," Aso told students at a graduation ceremony at the National Defense Academy.
"For us to assure peace and stability in Japan, it is extremely important to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance as well as to make its own efforts for self defence."
Under its US-imposed 1947 pacifist constitution, Japan renounced using or threatening force in international disputes. It nonetheless has one of the world's best-funded militaries, the Self-Defence Forces (SDF).
Japan is developing a missile defence system with the United States.
The government has said it is considering re-positioning land and sea-based interceptor missiles so they can shoot down a North Korean rocket if it threatens to hit its territory.
Pyongyang has said it would regard interception as an act of war.
Earlier this month the conservative Aso sent two Japanese warships for an anti-piracy mission off Somalia in which the nation's armed forces could face combat abroad for the first time since World War II.
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