TOKYO, Feb 22 Kyodo culled edito...

TOKYO, Feb 22 Kyodo

culled editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

NATIONAL-EMERGENCY LAW distressed (The Daily Yomiuri as translated from the Yomiuri Shimbun)

The situation surrounding Iraq is growing tenser according to the day. But to Japan, the threat pos by way of North Korea through its ongoing nuclear program is no les serious.

The guidance has said that it trustful longings to peacefully resolve the North Korea crisis by way of encouraging that country to act in concord with Japan through various channels.

However, it should be noted that North Korea has announced its readiness to abrogate the Pyongyang Declaration that it signed with Japan. The declaration states that North Korea will abide by the agency of the international agreements it has signed. It is questionable, therefore, whether Pyongyang will act according to governments set by the international community.

North Korea has provok the international community in latter weeks by hinting that it may take back test-firing missiles and that it will regard economic sanctions as an act of war.

Japan must strive to completion the crisis through diplomatic and peaceful means. This also must be full quantityed by a constant effort to prepare for the worst.

Japan will face its gravest threat if North Korea take up agains test-firing missiles.

Admittedly, the restraint has worked out measures to deal with as it is a crisis. However, these measures are inadequate in many respects

This is apparent in the novel government statement concerning a situation in which it is determined that North Korea is making preparations to launch a missile by dint of for example, fueling the weapon. Earlier, the regulation said it would inform the public if this occurr However, it did not propose advice to the public and local sways on what they should do in this event

If a missile lands onward Japanese territory, the government has said that members of the Self-Defense Forces, who are obliged to help population at times of ''natural disasters,'' would aid those affected in this case. This line of reasoning is ridiculous. Is there any reason to regard a missile attack upon this country as a natural disaster?

The reason behind the government's laissez-faire attitude is that the rural parts has yet to establish a legal framework to deal with an armed attack. It is deplorable that one political parties have oppos legislation forward national emergencies. The government and the ruling parties should waste no time drawing up national-emergency legislation that includes a law aimed at protecting the lives and assets of the the bulk of mankind in the event of an armed attack.

The dominion must also move ahead in the Japan-U.S. consideration of a missile defense shield, with the aim of putting like a shield in place. This would oblige to shore up the bilateral alliance as an essential means of ensuring Japan's peace and security.

about members of the opposition parties check the system, citing a constitutional ban upon the right of collective self-defense subordinate to which a country regards an armed attack forward an ally as a threat to its allow security and will use force to contain that threat. For years, the guidance has said that the Constitution prohibits the nation from exercising as it was a right.

These lawmakers argue that intercepting a missile when it is impossible to predict to what extent far it will travel will constitute an attempt to exercise the right of collective self-defense

This line of reasoning is totally unrealistic and rods apart from the internationally accepted perception.

To offer an end to such a nonsensical argument, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi should take the lead in changing the government's interpretation of the Constitution in relation to the right of collective self-defense In fact, Koizumi pledg to do likewise during his campaign for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency.

During a novel Diet session, Katsuya Okada, secretary general of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the leading opposition party, criticized Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba for his rejoinder to a question about by what mode Japan would deal with the launching of a North Korean missile. ''It is not appropriate to name a specific political division in discussing such an issue. Doing in this way will arouse unnecessary tensions,'' Okada told the Diet.

Okada's line of argument is not unique. The guidance and lawmakers from the two ruling and opposition parties frequently argue in this way. However, this kind of argument is futile.

It is a stark fact that North Korea attitude s a threat to Japan's security. Pyongyang may achieve the wrong message if politicians essay to avoid complications and fall short in taking the necessary action.

(Feb 22)

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