North Korea launched a missile over Japan today, and of course President Trump can do no more than twit about it. Kim Jong Un knows that and will continue to lever missile launches to drive wedges into tactical partnerships while enjoying target practice. Un's Hwasong 12's have a range of 3000 kilometers.
The United States doesn't actually have any short-range ballistic missiles it could give Japan. The ideal missile would be able to hit North Korea or fly over it into the ocean. The United States got rid of all but two ground-based ballistic missiles after the cold war-and they are ICBMs with a range of greater than 11,000 miles. Because of Hiroshima and Nagsaki some Americans are understandably unwilling to give those to Japan.
Still Japan needs to be free to defend itself. There aren't any smarter people in the world than the Japanese and they could easily destroy North Korea given license to do so, if they wanted. Because Asian policy stabilized somewhat after W.W. 2, not counting Vietnam, Cambodia and some other skirmishes, the balance of power is rather o.k. except for Kim Jong Un. Japan needs to be able to defend itself with some missiles it can launch over North Korea if the they want, as well as some warheads to go on the missiles. Maybe the government has some leftover Pershing 2 missiles. They had a range of a 1000 kilometers and could carry nukes or thermobaric discourager bombs I suppose.
The missiles of the USA have been largely replaced by cruise missiles such as the Tomahawk that can deliver nukes for low cost.If President Trump wants to mak ea statement Kim Un can understand he should send two dozen Pershing 2's to Japan and an assortment of warheads to go with it.Then he should try diplomacy and keep 20 or 30 nukes on Tomahawks flying within range of Pyongpang at all times.
https://missilethreat.csis.org/country/united-states/
https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/mgm-31b-pershing-2/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short-range_ballistic_missile a list of countries and missile assets
The United States doesn't actually have any short-range ballistic missiles it could give Japan. The ideal missile would be able to hit North Korea or fly over it into the ocean. The United States got rid of all but two ground-based ballistic missiles after the cold war-and they are ICBMs with a range of greater than 11,000 miles. Because of Hiroshima and Nagsaki some Americans are understandably unwilling to give those to Japan.
Still Japan needs to be free to defend itself. There aren't any smarter people in the world than the Japanese and they could easily destroy North Korea given license to do so, if they wanted. Because Asian policy stabilized somewhat after W.W. 2, not counting Vietnam, Cambodia and some other skirmishes, the balance of power is rather o.k. except for Kim Jong Un. Japan needs to be able to defend itself with some missiles it can launch over North Korea if the they want, as well as some warheads to go on the missiles. Maybe the government has some leftover Pershing 2 missiles. They had a range of a 1000 kilometers and could carry nukes or thermobaric discourager bombs I suppose.
The missiles of the USA have been largely replaced by cruise missiles such as the Tomahawk that can deliver nukes for low cost.If President Trump wants to mak ea statement Kim Un can understand he should send two dozen Pershing 2's to Japan and an assortment of warheads to go with it.Then he should try diplomacy and keep 20 or 30 nukes on Tomahawks flying within range of Pyongpang at all times.
https://missilethreat.csis.org/country/united-states/
https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/mgm-31b-pershing-2/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short-range_ballistic_missile a list of countries and missile assets
