The Hindu : Japan may view Pak. export of n-tech `seriously'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 03, 2003

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Japan may view Pak. export of n-tech `seriously'

By Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI MAY 2. Japan may get tough with Pakistan if Islamabad's export of nuclear technology to North Korea is proved, diplomatic sources here say. Tokyo currently claims lack of definite evidence on the nuclear and missile nexus between Islamabad and Pyongyang.

The clandestine strategic cooperation between Pakistan and North Korea which has deeply affected India and Japan is expected to figure prominently during the Japanese Defence Minister, Shigeru Ishiba's two-day visit beginning tomorrow. Mr. Ishiba, acknowledged as a prominent Japanese strategic thinker, has interacted extensively with the previous Defence Secretary, Yogendra Narain, on security-related issues.

North Korea's transfer of long-range missiles to Pakistan has made most Indian cities vulnerable to nuclear strikes. Pakistan's supply of nuclear weapons technology to North Korea has severely complicated the Japanese security environment.

Besides exchanging views on the nuclear situation in North Korea, Japan will be keen on getting the impressions of the Defence Minister, George Fernandes' week-long visit to China.

The Japanese Minister's main brief will be to deepen the strategic dialogue with India by picking up the threads of the National Security Advisor, Brajesh Mishra's, visit to Tokyo a fortnight ago.

With the thaw in the ties with India (Japan was among the first lot of countries to impose sanctions in 1998), Japan had started inserting the strategic aspect in bilateral relations with the visit of its Foreign Minister earlier this year.

The groundwork was done during the visit of Mr. Fernandes to Japan a year ago.

Another aspect of Mr. Ishiba's visit would be to assess the Indian Navy's capabilities in the Indian Ocean.

Heavily dependent on imported oil for its industry, Japan had earlier focussed on ensuring the safety of sea lanes to its north.

Following the developments in Afghanistan, it is now equally concerned about the security of sea lanes of communication (SLOC).

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