Section 1 International Terrorism and Countermeasures

## 1 International Terrorism

## (1) The Threat of Terrorism to Japan

After the death of the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, in May 2011, the new leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, asserted the continuation of jihad against the United States, Europe, and other nations. In addition, Al Qaeda-related organizations are expanding their power mainly in the Middle East and North African regions. Furthermore, incidents of terrorism are occurring that target Japanese nationals and interests, such as the terrorist attack in Amenas, Algeria in January 2013 that killed 40 people, including 10 Japanese nationals. It can be said that Japan is facing threats of large-scale, indiscriminate terrorism at home and abroad.

## (2) North Korea

As of April 1, 2014, the police have determined thirteen suspected cases of abduction by North Korea involving 19 victims, and are acting on international arrest warrants issued against eleven North Korean operatives involved in eight abduction cases.

In addition, in order to respond to cases for which the possibility of abduction by North Korea cannot be ruled out, the Special Supervision Team, established in the Foreign Affairs Division of the NPA Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Department in March 2013, is implementing guidance for prefectural police, and the police are promoting initiatives of strengthening cooperation with the Japan Coast Guard in terms of investigation and research and active extraction of DNA profiling materials, taking the necessities of the investigations and the intentions of families into consideration.

## 2 International Terrorism Countermeasures

In an effort to prevent acts of terrorism, the police are taking measures such as gathering and analyzing information through coordination with overseas security intelligence agencies, implementing administrative measures towards distributors of chemical substances that can be used as materials for explosives, implementing border controls at international ports and airports and promoting vigilance and security at important facilities. In addition, the police are working to improve their response capability in the event of a terrorist attack by implementing daily training for units such as the Special Assault Team (SAT), the Anti-Firearms Squad and the Counter-NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) Terrorism Squad.

Additionally, with regard to terrorist threats against nuclear facilities, the Anti-Firearms Squads are stationed at those facilities and engage in vigilance and security activities on a round-the-clock basis, and the police are implementing other initiatives such as joint training exercises with the Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Coast Guard.

Joint training exercises with the Japan Coast Guard

Section 2 Foreign Affairs and Countermeasures

1 Trends in Harmful Activities against Japan and Countermeasures

North Korea developed propaganda and agitation to heighten the cohesive power of the First Chairman of the National Defense Commission, Kim Jong-un. North Korea has developed hard-and-soft tactics for eliminating sanctions on North Korea through actions such as having repeatedly demanded “reparations for the past” of atonement and apology from Japan for war “crimes” through means such as state-run media, and reopening Japan-North Korea government talks between top-ranking officials.