[War] Japan: "A Measured Response"

[Ian Martell]

"A Measured Response"
Prime Minister Shunichi Sato
Japan
July 21st 2006
------------------------------------------------------

Sato couldn’t help but shake the feeling addressing the nation without 
having undergone the usual Cabinet inauguration proceedings was somewhat 
like a groom sneaking a peek at the bride before the wedding. Bad luck. 
However, these were extraordinary circumstances and so he went ahead with 
the planned address without argument, after all Japan needed an answer for 
the question that had been on it’s mind since the missile tests of July 4th, 
what was the government planning to do about North Korea?

Dressed in his best suit and seated behind his desk at the Kantei Sato 
awaited the cue to begin doing his best not to fuss with his hair which had 
been redone three times since he sat down because he habitually ran his hand 
over it and messed it up. He didn’t see how, but the ways of his personal 
stylist were mystery to him. He wondered if he should just surprise her by 
shaving his head one day.

The thought of her horrified reaction got him to smile as he waited the 
word. A moment later he got the nod and the light over the camera went from 
red to green.

“Nihonjin, konichiwa, I am honoured to address you for the first time  as 
your Prime Minister.  However I wish the circumstances for this address were 
better. But they are not. North Korea in its continuing campaign of ignoring 
its treaties and breaking its word to civilized nations has yet again fired 
missiles in the direction of our country in hopes of extorting aid through 
the threat of violence. It is a common tactic of thugs like those who hold 
power in North Korea and it has worked in the past. However this time it 
will not.

“As such I announce the following policies of the Cabinet: first, as 
Commander in Chief of the JSDF I have transferred the decision making 
authority in whether to shoot down incoming missiles, from my office to the 
section commanders of our air defence forces. This will allow a rapidity of 
response to missile attacks impossible under the old system of 
authorization. However this is only a immediate measure.  It is my intention 
that a full review of our missile defences be performed within the year and 
a communications and command infrastructure be created to integrate all 
sections of nation’s defence forces and our American allies into a system 
capable of a cohesive response that will adequately defend all parts of our 
nation from missile attack.

“Second, I along with the Ministers of Trade, Defence and Transport have 
ordered the suspension of all economic activity with North Korea effective 
in one week’s time. Further it is the intention of the Cabinet that by the 
end of that time all ships or planes of North Korean ownership or registry 
be turned away from our territory as well as any planes or ships ultimately 
bound for North Korea. The only exception to this will be in emergency 
circumstances where under international law we are required to render 
assistance. All other vessels and planes owned, registered or bound for 
North Korea will be turned away at the edges of our declared territory.

“While this measure is extreme we feel it is the only remedy short of 
violence to convince the North Korean regime that Japan will not knuckle 
under to the threats of thugs and madmen. It is our position that if North 
Korea wishes to discuss an end to this suspension of trade and assistance 
and any further aid it must do so with negotiation and not with its 
missiles.

“And finally to ensure the effectiveness of this suspension of trade, it is 
our intention to vigorously encourage the world’s leading nations to follow 
our example and cut off North Korea from assistance and trade until such 
time as they return to the negotiating table and prove themselves able to 
commit to their agreements.  Negotiation under any other terms will not be 
considered by this Cabinet. That is my promise to you the Japanese people 
and to the North Korean regime.”

Sato adjusted his view directly to the camera and inclined his body in a 
respectful bow towards the camera.

“Thank you very much and may all our gods smile on our nation in these 
coming days.”

Sato held the bow until he heard director give the word they were off the 
air and Sato sat up and loosened his tie which had been choking him 
throughout the speech.

“No, no, no,” Yukio his stylist said as she hurried out from behind the 
camera and lights. “We’re due in the conference room to meet the press.”

Sato sighed resignedly and re tightened his tie and rose from his desk. 
“Very well,” he said as he shook his head. “You think they’d give you a 
moment’s rest after you declared the most aggressive sanctions the country 
has ever put into effect,” he said to Akira as he joined him by his desk.

“No such luck,” he smiled.

Sato shrugged good naturedly. “Koizumi warned me there’d be days like this. 
How was the speech?”

“Good, though if you want the North Koreans to join us at the bargaining 
table, perhaps calling them madmen would not have been the best choice.”

Sato nodded. “I had the same thought but Kazuo and Nukaga were adamant about 
the strong language, it is apparently what is desired by our conservative 
constituency.”
“These would be the people who suggested ‘all our gods smile upon us’ also?”

Sato shook his head. “That was the New Komeito, you know how the Soka Gakkai 
is about religious inclusiveness and Kazuo felt I should develop a familiar 
closing statement for my speeches.”

Akira nodded. “Good idea actually.”

“I agree however I wish my speeches weren’t the product of a committee.”

Akira nodded. “You’re Prime Minister now, it’s not like you have time to 
write your own speeches like when you just a member of the Diet. Besides, 
compared to the inaugural speech this will seem like it was spontaneous.”

Sato grimaced playfully. “If I survive that long, I may just resign to 
escape all of this before then.”

“You’d make history as the shortest serving Prime Minister,” he said 
smiling. “This could be your big chance.”

Sato smiled back at his son and then gestured to move aside from the camera 
and sound equipment for a moment while Kazuo and Yukio were busy discussing 
whether there should be a change of tie to accomidate the backdrop of the 
press conference room.

“What progress have you made on the project I gave you and Hiro last night?”

“We’re looking at Ishikawa,” Akira replied.

“Ishikawa from Ibaraki’s second district?” asked Sato.

Akira nodded. “Yes, he’s popular with the elder members of the Party and 
he’s tried for the leadership before, he’s just not toeing the line with the 
Soka Gakkai and so doesn’t have the same support from the religious leaders 
as he might have.”

Sato considered that. “I think Minister Takezo worked with Ishikawa on the 
Trade Committee in the House of Counsellors. I’ll speak to him about helping 
you. Also Jiro Oda is coming up from Osaka this evening to meet with me on 
this. He knows some of the more influential members of the Soka Gakkai and 
I’ll see what he can do for ironing out any wrinkles if Ishikawa seems a 
good alternative to Kanzaki.”

Akira nodded. “Don’t trouble Jiro about it just yet father we’ve yet to get 
a feel for his willingness to co-operate.”

“I’ll let him know Ishikawa’s being considered,” Sato said.

Akira nodded then turned back towards the desk where Kazuo and Yukio were 
coming towards them.

“Our time’s up,” he smiled.

Sato looked back and sighed. “Seems so,” he said and then giving his son’s 
shoulder a squeeze he disengaged himself and turned himself over to his 
publicity handlers for the duration of the afternoon.

Actions:

1>	Allow authorization of counter missile measures to local commanders in 
the interim.
2>	Order a complete review of Japan’s missile defences and begin filling the 
holes as well as unifying the command and control functions of the 
disseparate units under a single command to be called Anti-Missile Command 
upon completion and rolled into the Air Self Defence Forces.
3>	Approach the US about a NORAD like multi-force co-operation in missile 
defence (likely subject of future JP)
4>	Freeze all aid to North Korea. Remove all aid workers from the country 
before the one week deadline is up.
5>	Refuse to allow ships of North Korean registry, ownership or are bound 
for North Korean ports access to Japanese waters. Same conditions apply for 
planes and Japanese airspace. All of these rules are may be excused if the 
ship or plane is in trouble then full distress procedures will be adhered 
to. Order to take effect on the 28th of July 2006.
6>	Japanese ships and planes involved in the enforcement of these rules are 
to receive authorization from the Prime Minister before engaging in any 
hostile actions unless they themselves come under attack then standard rules 
of engagement apply.

_________________________________________________________________
Play Q6 for your chance to WIN great prizes.  
http://q6trivia.imagine-live.com/enca/landing