New Delhi, Mar 11: Japan is very much concerned over the alarming build up by the Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean and its military presence in Asian countries like Pakistan and Myanmar. This was stated by Japanese defence scholars here today.

Professors Marie Yoshioka Izuyama and Eiichi Katahara of National Institute for Defence Studies, Tokyo, said Japan is also planning to strengthen its missile Defence Capabilities to counter possible missile threats from North Korea.

Katahara, giving a presentation on "Japan towards a 'normal state: Implications for Asia Pacific" at Observer Research Foundation here today, warned that "if North Korea launches missile attack against Japan, then it would be the end of the Kim Jong II regime."

He also said that Japan has a very good intelligence gathering capability from North Korea and that would give enough warning time to his country and the US to retaliate appropriately.

Katahara said there is also a big debate going on in his country whether to go for the nuclear umbrella being offered by its ally United States to counter the North Korean nuclear threat.

Katahara, in an answer to a question, said there was no strategic change in the US position towards denuclearisation of North Korea.

"US's direct talks with North Korea only indicate a tactical shift in its policy of denuclearisation of North Korea. There is no strategic shift in the US position," he said.

The Japanese professors noted that as part of becoming a "normal state", the Japan Defence Authority (JSA) has now been (since January 2007) transformed into a full fledged Ministry of Defence with powers to bring in its own legislations to Diet (Parliament).

It has been turned into a "political agency" from the "management agency", Katahara said. (ANI)