January 1, 2025 — The Financial Times has reported that the Russian military developed detailed plans for attacks on Japan and South Korea, outlining 160 specific sites as potential targets in the event of a war. These plans, which were drawn up by Russian military planners until 2014, focus on the assumption that a conflict with NATO would expand to East Asia.
Details of the Target Lists
The first 82 sites listed as targets are primarily military defense facilities, including central and regional command headquarters, air bases, and naval installations. Notably, the documents include precise details, such as photos of Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force radar base located on Okushiri Island in Hokkaido, as well as measurements of target buildings and facilities.
In addition to military targets, the list also includes civilian infrastructure. For Japan, this includes the Kanmon Tunnel, which connects the islands of Honshu and Kyushu, as well as a nuclear complex in Tokai Village, Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo.
For South Korea, targets include industrial sites such as a steelworks in Pohang and chemical factories in Busan.
The Role of Russian Cruise Missiles
The documents were part of a presentation intended to demonstrate Russia’s cruise missile capabilities, which included a report on the 2014 mission of two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers. These bombers were sent to test the air defenses of both Japan and South Korea. The bombers tracked the responses of the countries’ air forces, including whether their aircraft were armed or unarmed.
Continuing Relevance to Russian Strategy
The Financial Times report suggests that these plans are still considered relevant to Russian military strategy today. The target lists reflect an ongoing focus on military and industrial infrastructure in Japan and South Korea, indicating that Russia may view both nations as key areas of interest in any extended conflict with NATO or in broader geopolitical tensions.
This revelation underscores the strategic depth of Russia’s military planning and its potential for future conflicts, particularly in the context of rising tensions in East Asia.
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