chron.com
July 10, 2006, 11:28PM
Japanese officials want debate on right to pre-emptive strike

Washington Post

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TOKYO - In their toughest comments to date on North Korea's missile tests, Japanese officials called for debate on whether their country's pacifist constitution would allow Japan to pursue military capabilities to pre-emptively strike at North Korean missile bases. Japan currently does not possess such technology.

At the same time Monday, Japan backed away from pushing for a vote at the U.N. Security Council on a measure to impose tough sanctions on North Korea. U.S. and Japanese diplomats have continued to face regional opposition to the plan, particularly from China and South Korea, the communist state's most important benefactors.