Proposal to reorganize Ministry of Defence being considered; LDP calls for acquisition of the capacity to strike enemy missile sites; The Diet endorses the signing of an international treaty to ban the use and stockpiling of cluster bombs
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    • Reports noted that a proposal to reorganize the Japanese Ministry of Defence, giving greater authority to military officers, was being considered. The proposal was put forth in the aftermath of a scandal that led to the conviction in November 2008 of former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya for accepting bribes1. Reports also note that the Liberal Democratic Party has called for the acquisition of the capacity to strike enemy missile sites as part of the country’s defensive capabilities. The party’s suggestions were made in the context of the formulation of the new National Defense Program Guidelines2.

    In other developments, the Japanese Parliament (Diet) endorsed the signing of an international treaty to ban the use and stockpiling of cluster bombs, thus paving the way for Tokyo to ratify the treaty3.

    Meanwhile, the Japanese Coast Guard issued an alert to its ships even as North Korea banned the passage of vessels through the Sea of Japan. Reports suggested that the move was to counter possible launch of short-range missiles by Pyongyang. The North Korean ban covered 260 kilometers of the coastline northeast of Wonsan and up to 100 km of the sea from the shore4.

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