Japan Displays Long-Range Missile Launcher Ahead of Deployment

Japan’s Defence Ministry held an exhibition of missile launchers and related equipment on Tuesday at a Self-Defence Forces garrison in Kumamoto, south-western Japan, ahead of the scheduled deployment of long-range missiles on 31 March.

This first deployment follows Japan’s efforts to acquire counter-strike capability to strike enemy targets during national security emergencies, marking a departure from the nation’s pacifist defence policy based on a constitution that renounces war.

The missile is an upgraded version of the Type 12 guided land-to-ship missile, which has a range of approximately 1,000 kilometres and can reach parts of the mainland coast from the Kyushu region.

Amid the most serious security situation the country has faced since World War II, the government stated that Japan could fire the missile if it determined that an enemy had launched an attack first, even before the country sustained damage.

Exhibition participants viewing the conventional and upgraded versions of the Type 12 missile launcher, as well as other equipment such as ammunition transport vehicles, included Kumamoto Prefectural Governor Takashi Kimura and Kumamoto City Mayor Kazufumi Onishi.

Several residents criticised the Defence Ministry for failing to provide advance notice of the deployment, amid concerns that the deployment location could become a target for attack.

“What residents are concerned about and what they want to know varies,” the city mayor told reporters. “The most important thing for the ministry is to provide careful explanations.”

Similarly, the governor stated that he wanted the ministry to hold a separate event from the exhibition and provide comprehensive explanations to residents.

The Self-Defence Forces Ground Command did not notify the Kumamoto Prefectural or city governments regarding the transport of the new launcher and related equipment to Kengun Garrison in the early morning of 9 March.

Kazumi Ito, head of the Kyushu Bureau of the Defence Ministry, said his office would work closely with prefectural and city authorities to provide accurate information to the public.