Japanese defense ministry has recently decided to create a new post of integrated commander exercising unified command over the land, sea and air “self-defense forces”, together with unified command to back it up. It has got down to the work to review its set-up, site, etc.

It is said that there will be a speedy coordination to ensure that the post of the integrated commander be contained in 3 documents, including the “national security strategy” to be revised by the government by the end of this year.

It is said that Japanese defense ministry, when it deliberated on establishing a new mechanism, decided that there is a need to increase the mobility by newly establishing an office dedicated to the operation of units, taking into consideration its responses to new realms of security – Taiwan Emergency, space, cyber and electromagnetic waves security.

It has become a well-known fact that Japan has long been pushing ahead with the work to reorganize “self-defense forces” into offensive aggression forces.

It upgraded its defense agency to defense ministry and newly organized various units including the ground component command, amphibious rapid deployment brigade, cyber defense command, space operations squadron and electronic warfare operations unit. By doing so, it has expanded in stages the operational theater and capacity of the “self-defense forces”.

What is noteworthy is the fact it took the changes in international situation evolving over the Ukrainian crisis as a “once-in-a -lifetime opportunity for gaining nationwide concern over defense” and a “golden opportunity to break free from military restraints and recover its former position”. And it is seeking to achieve its aggressive objective while dramatizing the “threats” from its neighboring countries.

It is also bent on completing the chain of command, to say nothing of military expansion such as increased military expenditure of astronomical figures, possession of “counterattack capability”, etc.

What Japan wants to achieve through the swift and coordinated operation of its “self-defensive forces” is to perfect its preparations to conduct war at any time by ensuring surprise attack in the use of its military force, and precision, efficiency and mobility of preemptive strike in all spheres of outer space, cyber space and in the field of electromagnetic waves, to say nothing of the land, sea and the air.

The new establishment of the integrated commandership and unified command is a dangerous act to reinforce its armament and complete its war preparation for reinvasion over the changed international situation.

Japan should wise up to the fact that it will only hasten its self-destruction if it  loses control of itself and rushes along the path of reinvasion.

Pak Hak Song

Researcher of Institute for Studies of Japan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DPRK