Japan military holds live fire drills near Mt. Fuji
GOTEMBA (AFP) — Japan’s military began three days of live-fire drills near Mt. Fuji yesterday, an annual exercise that comes as regional tensions have flared following a war of words between the US and North Korea.
Around 2,400 soldiers, as well as tanks, field guns and helicopters were deployed at training grounds in the foothills of the iconic mountain, about 80 kilometers-west of Tokyo.
Airborne troops parachuted from planes, anti-aircraft cannon were fired and F2 fighter jets whizzed overhead in a display of force by one of the world’s best-equipped militaries.
The drills are meant to prepare Japan’s Self-Defencs Forces to repel an attack on its remote islands.
But North Korea’s recent threat to fire missiles at the US Pacific territory of Guam and territorial disputes with China and Russia are also concerning Tokyo.
“There are various issues and uncertain factors such as China’s forceful attempt to change the status quo in the East and South China Sea areas, North Korea’s promotion of ballistic missile development and nuclear weapons and Russia’s display of its presence in the Far East,” GSDF Chief of Staff General Koji Yamazaki said in a statement.
“The severity of the security situation surrounding our country... is increasing,” he added.
Japan has in the past vowed to shoot down North Korean missiles or rockets that threaten to hit its territory.
Meanwhile, a Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers have flown over the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, prompting Japan and South Korea to scramble jets to escort them, Russia said yesterday.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement the bombers flew over neutral waters and were accompanied by Russian Sukhoi-35S fighter jets and A-50 early warning and control aircraft.
It gave no details about the overall number of aircraft that had taken part in what it called a pre-arranged flight and did not say when or why the mission took place.