In an interview, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said
Japan was studying ways to provide U.S. forces with logistical
support in case of a conflict on the Korean Peninsula.
Japan is also interested, he said, in determining how
it can launch missions to evacuate civilians from the
peninsula as part of efforts to support a U.S. mission.
In subsequent briefings Thursday, Japanese defense officials
acknowledged that such maneuvers could put Japanese troops
in harm's way. If attacked, they said, Japanese forces
would fight back, which would necessitate more and deeper
training with the United States and perhaps South Korea
to ensure against casualties from friendly fire.
"The basic principle of Japan is to pursue peace,"
Kitazawa said, referring to Japan's constitution, which
limits its military to the defense of Japan. "But
we also need to have measures to avoid being left behind."
Kitazawa's statements, made during a visit by Secretary
of Defense Robert M. Gates to Japan, underscore a significant
improvement in relations between the United States and
Japan since the last time Gates visited this country -
in October 2009. They also highlight a significant risk
that Japan is taking, moving to bolster its military profile
in a region with strong memories of World War II.
