Mr. Yamamoto claims he did so in order to protest the government’s nuclear energy policies.
The drone was contaminated with radiation, sparking fears of a potential terrorist attack. Prime Minister Abe was not present in the office, and is currently visiting the United States.
In September of 2013 Japan shut down its last operating nuclear reactor, leaving the country without nuclear energy for the first time in four decades. The move was in response the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, which saw the Fukushima nuclear plant critically damaged by a tsunami.
A Japanese court recently ruled that Japan could restart its nuclear reactors, however, drawing the ire of anti-nuclear energy protesters.
This incident marks the most recent of a long string of events involving unmanned aerial vehicles invading the security space of high-risk targets. Drones have been involved in incidents in Germany, Washington D.C., and elsewhere.
Security experts now cite drones as a serious security risk capable of delivering bombs, and arguing they could potentially be armed with guns or other weapons. Police departments in New York, Washington D.C. and elsewhere have been stepping up their efforts to monitor drone activities.
Tensions Rising Over Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy has long drawn the scorn of activists around the world, and when the 2011 Fukushima incident occurred, the fears of many activists seemed to be vindicated. Following public outcry, the Japanese government shut down all of the country’s nuclear reactors and began to import fuel to make up for the lost energy supply.
Now, the government is looking to restart at least some of the reactors in order to cut spending on other fuel sources. With Japan’s economy struggling to shake off two decades of slow growth, and public debt already totaling nearly 250 percent of the national GDP, cutting costs is becoming a priority.
Now, a legal battle to restart the nuclear power plants is ensuing in court, though so far neither side has secured a final victory. On Wednesday, April 22, the Kagoshima District Court ruled that the Sendai nuclear power plant could be restarted. A week earlier, a local court in the Fukui Prefecture ruled that the reactors could not be restarted. Further legal battles are expected.
Security Drones Pose Potential Security Risk
While drones are gaining much of their infamy for being a public annoyance, and occasionally invading privacy, security officials worry that drones could pose a serious security threat.
In Dresden, Germany, a drone landed mere feet in front of Angela Merkel while she was giving a public speech. Before landing, the drone could be seen hovering over the crowd. Activists from Germany’s Pirate Party have claimed responsibility for the act. Security experts speculate that the drone could have easily delivered a bomb.
The New York City Police Department, which is America’s largest police force, has begun monitoring the skies for drones, fearing that they could be used to deliver bombs, or armed with guns. Meanwhile, this past January a drone landed on the grounds of the White House.
The rising number of incidents has many security experts and officials across the world worried. Drones are relatively cheap, easy to use, and can penetrate even secured airspace, as the recent incident in Japan demonstrates.
