Japan's increasingly powerful rightwing has gone to some strange lengths to condemn Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's recent admirable efforts to improve relations with North Korea. (Any fool with a brain can understand that these evil north koreans simply are exploiting japan for food and money. Yes I disagree with his idiotic actions as well.)

Koizumi was accused of kowtowing to North Korean blackmail by going to Pyongyang to gain freedom for the eight family members of the five abductees sent to Japan in October 2002. From the beginning, though, it was clear that Pyongyang had no objection to the family members going to Japan. (If that was the case they would have sent them for free and this would have been solved YEARS ago but no japan is the bad guy here.)

Its only objection was to the way Tokyo had reneged on Koizumi's earlier promise to allow a return visit to North Korea of the five repatriated abductees. Koizumi's dramatic Pyongyang visit last month was in effect a bid to make up for breaking this promise.

With his promise to resume humanitarian aid to North Korea, Koizumi is accused of offering hostage money. In fact he was simply lifting an unfair sanction imposed on North Korea for its alleged intransigence in not returning the family members earlier. (Unfair santion? Hell fu-k them those sanctions are fair. If anything they should be increased.)

Before Koizumi's visit, Shinzo Abe, secretary general of Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party, and other LDP rightwingers were saying openly the visit would be a failure if Koizumi did not bring back all eight family members, including Charles Jenkins, the husband of a repatriated abductee, Hitomi Soga. But from the beginning they knew quite well that Jenkins could not go to Japan, since the United States had already warned at the highest levels that it would demand the extradition of Jenkins as a former U.S. Army deserter the moment he set foot in Japan. (Personally I think that the america should be low priority. Japan should focus on getting the japanese out of that hell hole. Not this cowardice deserter.)

They also knew that Soga's two daughters would refuse to go to Japan without their father.

More rightwing scorn was poured on Koizumi's alleged failure to gain full information on the fates of another 10 people said to have been abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and early '80s. This, despite Koizumi's remarkable success in getting the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, to admit that the previous information provided was deficient and that he would accept Japanese officials' joining in a reinvestigation.

Koizumi was also criticized for failing to get North Korea to renounce its claimed nuclear weapons program. But as Kim told Koizumi, and will tell anyone else who will listen, North Korea cannot abandon that claim while the U.S. says it is part of an "axis of evil" and threatens preemptive attack. The key to solving the nuclear problem lies with the U.S., and the U.S. continues to refuse direct negotiations, not to mention the normalization of relations it promised back in 1994. (They are part of the axis of evil the only thing is that america is at the top of this ridiculous "axis")

The irony in all this is that Koizumi, with his love of Japan's military and his visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, can hardly be accused of lacking nationalistic credentials. Yet he is being portrayed by the right as some kind of national traitor for even talking to North Korea. Immediate sanctions and even the threat of war are said to be needed to bring North Korea to heel. Rightwing publications are already touting Abe and another prominent LDP hardliner, Takeo Hiranuma, as possible successors to Koizumi. (Koizumi may love japan to a extent. However he has done nothing to return japan to normalcy. Infact he seems to be extra subservient to the americans and north koreans. This is unacceptable.)
Even more alarming is the way most of Japan's media and many in the allegedly more liberal-minded Democratic Party of Japan have gone along with this anti-Koizumi, anti-Pyongyang fervor. Even the media outlets in the progressive Asahi Shimbun group, which in the past has done much to oppose Japan's drift into rightwing demagoguery, have preferred to go along with the anti-Pyongyang consensus. Nowhere do we find any hint of anyone realizing that Japan's past abuses of Chinese and Koreans brought or abducted to Japan before 1945 were far worse than anything North Korea has done to Japanese citizens. (Even so. Those acts are long over. Now japanese are victimized by the korean people. Ending this evil treatment must be japan's priority.)

Nor, and unlike in South Korea, is there any recognition of the significant concessions Pyongyang has been making in its bid to open up to the outside world. For the leader of an autocratic communist regime to admit and apologize for his own past misbehavior, as Kim has done on the abductee issue, is remarkable.

In this, as in so many other foreign policy issues, Japan remains fixated on its own claims and emotions. It is quite unable to realize that the other side has claims and feelings too. (It doesnt really what north korea "feels". These people have kidnapped japanese citizens attacked japanese vessels and have launched rockets over our nation. Their worthless emotions should not even be considered.)
Worse is the way the rightwing happily shifts the goal posts whenever some hard-won breakthrough in relations with the other side seems imminent. If the other side reacts in protest, it is then slammed for intransigence.

Japan's rightwing protested violently the way the five abductees and the eight family members had to wait 18 months for a reunion. But that 18-month delay was the direct result of rightwing maneuvers to have Tokyo renege on its initial 2002 agreements with North Korea.

The rightwing now calls for sanctions and a freeze on relations if North Korea does not satisfactorily account for all of the other 10 alleged abductees, including two that North Korea says it has never heard of. But who decides what is satisfactory? The scope for the rightwing to keep those goal posts moving is infinite.

We saw the same deviousness in the so-called Northern Territories dispute. When Moscow agreed to return two islands claimed by Tokyo, the rightwing quickly arranged for Japan's claim to be upped to four islands. When this was refused, sanctions and a freeze on relations with Moscow was demanded. Today the media and the entire political establishment have all come to believe that Japan's claim is totally justified even though Tokyo has consistently refused to test its case before the International Court of Justice in the Hague. (Just give us what rightfully belongs to us. That is all I personally want)

We see the beginning of similar rightwing manipulations in Japan's claims to ownership of the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Taken together it is a worrying reminder that Japan has not moved much from the attitudes that pushed it into its prewar militarism (disputed or not the senkaku also belong to japan. We have america to thank for that one. It was least they could do.)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/geted....o20040618gc.htm

I love how this article tries to make the north koreans look like the victims.

This article is totally wrong. It's not even an article. It's just an editorial. This is the opinion of one crazed reporter who probably wrote this from his desk in America or China.

Japan is not in a pre-war militarism. Japan is far from that. Japanese people don't care about their own country and no one supports war.

Foreigners always talk about Japan's "right-wingers" but these people are a very very small minority. These people can't get anything done on their own. There are right-wingers in every country and the number of them in Japan is just as small as in other nations.

To demand what is rightfully ours is not radical.

To fear attack from a dangerous authoritarian country with nuclear capabilities is not radical.

To have to compromise to get hostages back from a nation is ridiculous. These people should be able to go home under NO conditions. Why do we have to bow down to their wishes?

American journalists have made a point of unfairly demonizing North Koreans, so you're an idiot if you believe everything you read about North Koreans. They are not aliens from another plant without any conception of moral values as Americans make them out to be; they are rational, peaceloving people just like you and I.

Why is Japan even allying itself with the US on the North Korea issue? It's none of their business.

Japan has committed more heinous acts against Koreans. You may say that the past is past, and the present is different, but it was only 50 years ago and I doubt that the Japanese changed that much.

I can't believe you would ask why Japan would ally with America on the N. Korean issue. N. Korean issue is the biggest international issue to Japan right now. N. Korea affects the very future of Japan. We are under the dire threat of attack. We have had missiles shot at us. Of course we're worried. They have hostages as well.

And I didn't say that the N. Koreans are evil or anything. I pity them, in fact. It is their government and their evil leader Kim Jong Il.

Meh. It does not really matter to me what light they are portrayed in. That is not my problem if the americans make them look bad.



Now that last part was funny.



When north koreans attack japanese vessels kidnap our citizens and then decide to launch missles over the country. It is indeed our buisness.



The japanese have dynamically changed. Now I do not deny that japan brutalized the koreans in the past. However the north koreans have done nothing more than cause harm to the japanese people. They kidnap and have killed japanese citizens. This is going on in the modern day. It is priority to deal with this first.

Meatball:



Pity them? Why the hell would you pity them? Explain this.

There people are living under a cruel dictatorship. Many of them do not have the luxuries that we take for granted. These people need to be liberated from their evil leader and government. I can't believe you cannot even realize their plight.

Oh I do realize their plight. I simply don't give a damn.

All North Koreans are not "evil". It's a stupid, blanket statement that echoes misconceptions by the Japanese/American media of who Noth Koreans really are. It's like me saying all Japanese are "evil" based on my knowledge of the atrocious acts committed during WWII.

South Koreans and North Koreans are the same. They are one people, and country that have been artificially divided on the 38th parallel. In fact, the armistice that ended the War wasn't even signed by Koreans. By believing that North Koreans are irrational and not peaceloving people, you are basically saying that South Koreans are the same, as they share the same personality and culture. Have you actually met or talked to North Koreans, which would give support to your claims. Or are you relying on misinformation?

North Korea is not a threat to the Asian region. The situation is like this--because North Korea is lock in among powerful rich countries, it feels it has to do something to be on equal footing in case they are attacked. They are only trying to protect themselves, and because they don't have the resources as the rich countries, they feel they have to resort to nuclear arms. It's a rational response, coming from a poor and scared country. I truly believe that they are only arming themselves for DEFENSIVE purposes. They will not strike unless they're are provoked.

I am sorry for the Japanese lives lost, but you will not help the situation by provoking the North Koreans. If Japan wants to resolve the situation, they should stay out of the talks, and stop making so much noise about it. The more you do, the less NK will be willing to talk. Koizumi is intelligent for playing a passive role. I would advise that you let South Koreans handle the situation. They are the only ones that North Koreans will listen to and who understands them. In fact, before Bush and his stupid axis of evil speech, both North and South were holding talks about a possible reunification. Bush was wrong about Iraq, why would you believe anything he says about North Korea?

[B]I knew it would be only a matter of time before I got a decent north korean supporter to talk to. All I had to do was wait.

[quote]All North Koreans are not "evil".[/quote]

Just as evil as japanese are "devils".

[quote]South Koreans and North Koreans are the same.[/quote]

This is correct. However I see them both in two completely different ways. South koreans may talk about harm japanese at the most while north koreans actually go out and harm japanese people. Or cause evil deeds in south korea while disguised as japanese.

[quote]By believing that North Koreans are irrational and not peaceloving people, you are basically saying that South Koreans are the same, as they share the same personality and culture.[/quote]

This was a clever try. But no the north koreans are warmongers are murders. That is the way I see it. They do not want peace. South korea for the most part does not bother,threaten or kidnap citizens from other nations. Try harder next time.

[quote]Have you actually met or talked to North Koreans, which would give support to your claims.[/quote]

Yes I have.

[quote]Or are you relying on misinformation?[/quote]

No I believe what I see and hear about north korea. If anyone is misinformed it is the north korean people.

[quote]North Korea is not a threat to the Asian region.[/quote]

Why yes it. A rogue communist state threatening various countries is a threat to the region indeed.

[quote]The situation is like this--because North Korea is lock in among powerful rich countries, it feels it has to do something to be on equal footing in case they are attacked. [/quote]

Personally I don't care what they do as long as their weapons cannot harm japanese assets or people. They can build all the weapons short of WMD as they want. I would not complain.


[quote]It's a rational response, coming from a poor and scared country.[/quote]

They only have themselves to blame for their poverty. Kim refuses to feed those people. He would rather build weapons of war. They even try to sell the food that various nations give them to the poor. This is the reason they are looked down upon by the international community.

[quote] truly believe that they are only arming themselves for DEFENSIVE purposes.[/quote]

I sure as hell don't. Not with that "turn your nation into a sea of fire" comment. Hell they were starting trouble way back in the late 80s. They can't be trusted until that government is changed.

[quote]They will not strike unless they're are provoked. [/quote]

You cannot garuntee this. All signs them being aggressors.

[quote]I am sorry for the Japanese lives lost, but you will not help the situation by provoking the North Koreans.[/quote]

WRONG. It is the north koreans that have provoked japan several times. The japanese have been more than patient with them.

[quote] Japan wants to resolve the situation, they should stay out of the talks, and stop making so much noise about it. [/quote]

Perhaps japan will "stop noise" about this when the koreans return what belongs to us and stay away from our territory. Unfortunately this does involve japan.

[quote]The more you do, the less NK will be willing to talk.[/quote]

Im fine with that. Just so long as more north koreans starve and die while he refuses to give up his weapons. It wont be a problem then. You see I don't care about their lives or time. I just want their WMD removed despite the human cost on their side.

[quote]I would advise that you let South Koreans handle the situation. They are the only ones that North Koreans will listen to and who understands them[/quote].

No the south koreans are too loose with them. The north koreans can only be dealt with a firm hand. There is no other effective way. They have played their games for decades. It is time for that to end before something terrible happens.

[quote]Bush was wrong about Iraq, why would you believe anything he says about North Korea? [/quote]

A chance that should be taken.

It looks to me Japan was not making so much noise about NK, nor even concerned for their safety until Bush and his stupid rallying cry. Is Japan really concerned about its safety, or just trying to get under the good graces of the US?

Look, I'm not saying that NK has acted like angels. I am saying that this situation is totally overblown. So I wouldn't believe everything you read and hear.

NK has shown that they have a very fiery disposition, by throwing out threats and insults during the talks. But they are not really aggressors; they just have no understanding of the meaning of the word diplomacy. But that is unfortunately the Korean way--they are very hot-tempered, but they don't mean anything by it. They just can't control their tempers. SKs understand this, so that is why they should handle the talks alone.

Japan has been concerned with north korea since the 50s. They have been making noise when sung il was planing the nuclear weapons. We have been going long before bush.



I believe japan is really concerned with it's safety. Now iraq is a different story.



What I have is more than enough. North koreans kidnap japanese. Several have been reported mysteriously dead. North koreans threaten japan. North koreans build rocket and launch over japan.



We may as well just agree to disagree here. I can tell this part will not go anywhere. Anyway like I feel that sk is too gentle with nk. Someone else must make sure the job gets completed to the letter.

Look, I think, and I think we all think, that we're just misinterpreting what Ogumo is saying here. I think, and I hope, that Ogumo is saying that the N. Korean GOVERNMENT is evil, not it's people. Ogumo has nothing against the PEOPLE of N. Korea. N. Koreans are just as much a victim as the Japanese people and South Korean people are.

Do you realize that there are more South Koreans kidnapped by the N. Korean government than Japanese people. South Korea is also affected by the N. Korean crisis. N. Korea poses a much bigger threat to the world than any other nation in the world including Afghanistan and Iraq pre- Sept. 11. Those countries never even held WMD. N. Korea has the ability and the WILL to launch nuclear weapons. It's reach actually goes all the way to American soil (Alaska) and soon will reach coastal cities such as San Diego and San Francisco.

We all need to resolve the crisis in the far east. It is a matter of the survival of the human race, not just a Japanese problem.