North Korea’s Nuclear Missile Potential Issue in Japanese Policy: Trends and Prospects

Abstract

The situation on the Korean Peninsula in recent years has been characterized by rising tensions, one of the reasons for which is related to the development of North Korea’s nuclear missile program. Having achieved notable success in nuclear missile development, the DPRK continues to consistently modernise its nuclear capabilities and increase the number of missile tests. North Korean activity is of serious concern to the countries of the region, in particular to Japan, whose policy towards Pyongyang is driven by the unwillingness to have a military strong country near its territory. The author analyses Tokyo’s current policy towards the DPRK, which involves active containment of the so-called North Korean threat. One of Japan’s approaches involves strengthening military cooperation with the US and ROK, including the expansion of cooperation in the field of missile defence, regular consultations and military exercises, the creation of a data exchange mechanism.