Japan must build defence capability: PM

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YOKOSUKA, Japan, Mar 22 (AFP): Japan must build its defence capabilities and strengthen its alliance with the United States, Prime Minister Taro Aso said Sunday, ahead of a planned rocket launch by North Korea.
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 Defence 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.