JAPAN: Fisherman Yasumasa Higa braces for North Korea's impending rocket launch, after Japan readies missile batteries on the southern island of Ishigaki

Record ID: 466221

  • Title: JAPAN: Fisherman Yasumasa Higa braces for North Korea's impending rocket launch, after Japan readies missile batteries on the southern island of Ishigaki
  • Date: 12th April 2012
  • Summary: ISHIGAKI, JAPAN (APRIL 11, 2012) (REUTERS) FISHERMEN LEAVING PORT IN BOAT BOAT CAPTAIN YASUMASA HIGA PILOTING BOAT BOAT SAILING IN ISHIGAKI PORT VARIOUS OF PATRIOT MISSILE LAUNCHERS DEPLOYED IN ISHIGAKI PORT VARIOUS OF BOAT MOORING IN PORT VARIOUS HIGA CLIMBING DOWN FROM BOAT COCKPIT (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 55-YEAR-OLD FISHERMAN YASUMASA HIGA, SAYING: "They can't protect us without putting the PAC-3 missiles here. So the missiles might make us uneasy, but they're here for our protection. So in a sense, we also feel grateful." MORE OF MISSILE LAUNCHERS VARIOUS OF HIGA PILOTING BOAT MORE OF MISSILE LAUNCHERS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) YASUMASA HIGA, SAYING: "Well, if things go wrong and the rocket drops on us here, well, that will have a big impact on our livelihoods as fishermen. So it's a real worry." MORE OF MISSILE LAUNCHER BOAT SAILING IN BAY MORE OF MISSILE LAUNCHERS CREW MEMBER AT FRONT OF BOAT
  • Embargoed: 27th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan, Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVAAMRO5LBD9PBOJA3T9V7D2LMX3
  • Story Text: For 35 years, Yasumasa Higa has braved the stormy seas around Japan's remote southern island of Ishigaki in his fishing boat.
    But now a man-made peril threatens to send him off course.
    An impending rocket launch from North Korea this week threatens to cross into Japanese airspace -- and defence chiefs have flagged up Ishigaki as a potential flash point.
    Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC) 3 missile launchers and accompanying radar vehicles now dot the port area.
    "They can't protect us without putting the PAC-3 missiles here. So the missiles might make us uneasy, but they're here for our protection. So in a sense, we also feel grateful," Higa said.
    "Well, if things go wrong and the rocket drops on us here, well, that will have a big impact on our livelihoods as fishermen. So it's a real worry."
    Hundreds of military personnel from Japan's Self Defence Force (SDF) have already set up base on the island to deploy a ballistic missile defence system after the government issued orders that allowed forces to shoot down North Korea's planned rocket if it directly threatens Japanese territory.
    Interceptor missiles will be fired only if the North Korean missile or parts of it appear to be falling towards Japanese territory, threatening its people or their property, the Japanese government said.
    The impoverished North Korea said it would use a rocket to launch a weather satellite to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, the country's founding ruler and grandfather of the current ruler.
    The United States and other countries, including Japan, say it is a disguised long-range ballistic missile test, violating U.N. Security Council resolutions.
    The missile launch is due to take place between April 12-16.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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