Japan's defense white paper is sounding the alarm about the increasing ability of North Korea and China to launch missile attacks capable of piercing the missile defense networks of Japan and other territories.
According to the Defense of Japan 2020 report, North Korea has launched at least three new short-range ballistic missiles since May 2019, according to the report. Among the characteristics are a type that flies at low altitudes on irregular trajectories and operational capabilities that can make possible saturation attacks, where a large number of missiles are launched nearly simultaneously to overwhelm enemy interception capabilities.
In addition, rather than liquid fuel systems that require time for fuel injection immediately before launch, the new missiles use solid fuel loaded in advance.
The report emphasizes that North Korea has also been focusing on enhancing its surprise attack capabilities, including the use of more maneuverable mobile launch pads called transporter erector launchers.
These developments are aimed at making "early detection of the signs of a launch and the interception of the missiles more difficult," the report states.
Regarding China, the report states that for over 30 years "China has sustained high-level growth of its defense budget without transparency." It notes that China is making progress on deploying the DF-17, a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a hypersonic glide vehicle that flies at Mach 5 or faster, and the DF-41, a multiple-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States.
For Japan's missile defense, the country currently has a two-layer system that uses SM-3 interceptor missiles aboard Aegis equipped destroyers along with PAC-3 surface-to-air missiles.
To create a more multi-layered defense network, the government planned to deploy the Aegis Ashore land-based interceptor system. But this was scrapped in June on the grounds of potential issues involving the falling of boosters that assist in propulsion of the interceptor missiles.
North Korea's new missiles that fly on irregular trajectories and China's DF-17 would likely be difficult to intercept even with Aegis Ashore.
"This partly contributed to abandoning the deployment," a senior Foreign Ministry official said.
The government is discussing new security strategies and is expected to provide direction for an alternative missile defense system around September.
There is persistent suspicion that Japan can no longer protect itself with a "shield" alone, which has shifted the debate to whether Japan should possess the ability to attack enemy bases.
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