North Korean Missile Test

[Kaliayev]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Add in the Japanese abductions. The NKs sent commando raids into Japanese coastal areas and islands and abducted scores, maybe hundreds of Japanese citizens, to take back to NK and 're-educate' (brainwash), probably with the idea of returning them as secret agents, or at least using them to train their own agents.

Can anyone say "act of war"? "Causus belli"?

Except Japan doesn't have an armed force who can go in and deal with such things (yet). Article Nine of their Constitution specifically forbids them, though as North Korea get more threatening, there will be more popular support for constitutional revision. Also, the (likely) incoming government has made noises to the effect that they do not want to be reliant entirely on American military power, which is usually the stealth argument for remilitarization.

Besides, its a little late to go to war now, since they have been returned.