Japan's Defence Minister has stressed his country's right to strike North Korean missile sites if an attack is thought imminent.
 
In an exclusive interview, Shigeru Ishiba told The Independent: "The Japanese constitution permits my position. Attacking North Korea after a missile attack on Japan is too late. If North Korea orders its military to send a missile to attack Japan and the missile is raised to vertical in preparation for launch, then Japan will assume that an attack has begun and has the right to attack that particular missile launch site. What else can the missile be used for but to attack us?"
 
Intelligence officials estimate that North Korea has at least 100 Rodong ballistic missiles capable of striking Japan.
 
Mr Ishiba said: "The threat from North Korea, however, is not just aimed at Japan and the US, it's a problem for the whole world." He insisted his position was a defensive one. The tension was the fault of Pyongyang, he said, for "continuing to develop weapons in violation of their promises. We're just defending ourselves."
 
The Independent
Japan warns that it will attack if North Korea aims missile
by David McNeill