I think any or all countries that might need to act militarily against North Korea could erase their countries emblem from their planes and missiles so that the North Korean leader would not know which country attacked him to know which country to hit back. I think which nation or nation’s it was could be kept a known-world-secret from now on, as long as North Korea has nuclear power. 'Plain' uniforms could be used for any ground troops.
Surely, if any military action were to occur, one or all of the major countries has an ability to cyber-attack North Korea to temporarily deactivate their weapons systems.
If ever, the world might find it absolutely necessary to remove the North Korean leader from power, I think special agents masked as food distribution employees could use information Chinese trade advertisers have on what food and drink the North Korean capital uses to put tranquilizers in top cabinet leader’s food and drink where we could put then to sleep and then arrest Jung Un and his family.
The world should not have to put up with North Korea testing nuclear weaponry ‘to’ threaten other countries.
The world respect the North Korean leader claims to be seeking is ‘earned’ by countries, respect is not given to nations by other nations at gun-point.
1
If NK shot two missles over the US their country would be glass right now. Just saying.
4
Probably a side issue, but I am reminded Japan continues to use the Rising Sun flag while Germany bans the Swastika. Both flags represented often unimaginable horrors leading up to, and during, WWII. On topic: would Japan permit the U.S. to station anti-missile defenses on its territory?
2
Why is it so hard to wake these folks up? If a missile flies over your territory SHOOT IT DOWN, or, at least try to do that, and get your offensive weapons ready.
4
The U.S, and the U.N. should put an end to North Korea's missile testing program by stationing a multinational navy task force equipped with surface to air cruise missile that will shoot down every missile that North Korea attempts to send beyond its boarders.
3
Continued appeasement and head in the sand tactics will surely result in a very happy ENDING.
2
This scenario will never happen - but it is worth imagining
The United States and China cut a deal with Korea being unified under the authority of the South. The United Sates pulls all American troops out of Korean. The world's gross domestic product increase by 3% annually.
Why this will never happen (subjective opine):
1) China holds North Korea's leash
2) China is trying to provoke the United States into shooting down a North Korean missile so as to see the true capability of our missile defense system
3) North Korea is China's laundromat for cash, drugs and other such illicit sundries
What should happen (but probably won't):
Free Japan of all military restrictions
Free South Korea of all military restrictions
Help India enhance its military capabilities, especially its naval forces, so that India can project its presence in the South China sea
Or
Ignore North Korea completely until they make a huge mistake like landing a missile on any US territory - then turn North Korea into a shining sheet of fused glass - that way Dear Leader can, in the afterlife, reflect the full glory of the sun
2
North Korea is not a threat to the United States and the less the United States get involved in the tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula, the better it will be for everyone in the World. But South Korea and Japan must cooperate with Israel to continuously improve anti-rocket technology, to the point that no terrorist-ruled state, like the Gaza Strip or North Korea is capable of posing any threat to the security of these nations and their populations. Japan and South Korea should not develop military offensive capabilities, in order not to upset China, with which they must have the best possible relationship because of their economic interests. Besides, China will only support North Korea in a conflict, if South Korea, Japan or the US attack North Korea. But the Chinese are wise and will not support it in case it starts a war. It is not interesting for them. They will surely understand that Japan and South Korea need an anti-missile defensive shield. I think Japan and South Korea should even build nukes(which they could use to neutralize North Korea in case the Kims go completely mad and spit heavy fire on them), but quietly, in order not to upset other nations.
1
WIth two nuts: USA and N Korea threatening nuclear war, we might all blow up in a nuclear holocaust
Call our senator asking to vote YES for HR 669 so Trump can't push the nuclear button without consultation, if you value your life..
2
it's really sad to see that all of us who started as one species, are stupid enough not to realize, that by the way we think and live now we run head long to our own destruction eyes wide open. The Asians have one of the most beautiful and simplistic and for the most part believe peace and true power come from within, but are still to blind to see truth. when you see a problem and choose not to face it, you deserve what you get. these powers like China and Russia need to wake up and start realizing we don't want to be ruled and told what to do we were deeded these lives there ours not yours to use as tools to furthering your war mongering. the world is changing and good people who believe that our species has a much more important role in the world, To Create, a world where no one is left behind we all matter, but when your ideals cause harm and descent you gotta change that delusional thinking.
I do not oppose Japan, or Taiwan, getting nukes. Anyone attacked has the moral authoriity to exterminate the attacker.
2
The responses here to Kim Jong-un’s arming miss the reason behind the same. He views the USA as a threatening entity and nuclear armament as means of preventing our proclivity for régime change; this can be viewed as rational behavior if he were operating in an ordered rational environment.
That is not a valid assumption in the state of chaos that possesses current Washington decision making.
Russia and China are not linked as many assume to Pyongyang in any forceful way even to the level of diplomatic exchanges. NK has created its own hereditary model of command systems and calls it communism. The solution is to try and negotiate once more with Pyongyang on their terns and see what the limits are. Statesmen can do that, other options are likely roads to hell.
2
There are many risks Japan faces as a country; natural disasters, man-made ones, invasion from outside, corrosion from inside. What people noticed or made noticed in a hard way at WWII was the risk of interior erosion "switched on by collective mode" was the most grave. Looking at the fuss over North Korean missiles made me think this collective mode is very much alive and if once we are there reasonable assessments of risks is impossible even for supposedly left-leaning media. The situation is indeed very concerned not by an unruly North Korea or an aggressive China but by a Japan's uniform response.
1
Mutually Assured Destruction has and will always work.--
-- The US ought to be unilaterally standing down on any further military exercises and statements about North Korea for 3 months with an offer of another 3 month extension if there are no further nuclear tests , threats, or missile launches.
-- At the end of 6 months, we ought to offer to negotiate an end to the armistice, recognition of the sovereign status of North Korea, and the withdrawal of all U.S. Forces from South Korea and ending economic sanctions. All of this contingent on N Korea's not conducting further tests and launches or making threats.
-- The next steps would include the verified withdrawal of North Koreas artillery pieces out of range of Seoul in exchange for South Korean troops and weapons pulling far enough away from the border as to prevent the ability to threaten invasion or attacks of any kind. Inspectors and military personnel from each side would be on site to verify.
--a steady flow of economic aid, food, fuel and construction from the South to the North would take place contingent on strict mutual compliance to the above points.
Yes, it would ensure Kim Jong Uns' reign in perpetuity, but a well -fed and prosperous North Korea with little freedom for its citizens is preferable to the scenario of war. China and Russia would love to have a stable buffer of North Korea and a South Korea free of US military personnel rather than a de-stabilizing, not to say catastrophic war.
3
The greatest deterrent to NK is not a heavily armed Japan, SK or a greater number of US forces in the region. The provocations of a nuclear NK have placed both Japan and SK in a position where they have no other alternatives but to increase their military capabilities ensuring that the cycle will continue. This certainly benefits American corporations such as Lockheed, Northrup, Boeing and the many other companies that manufacture weapons made right here in the USA.
Sure we can crank out multi million/billion dollar cruise missiles, tanks, jets, ships and submarines but making a TV, clock radio, furniture, tools, clothing or computers is just too burdensome for Apple, Craftsman and the many other "American" companies manufacturing their products in China. Jobs Americans used to do.
As of now I only see two options:
1- Relentless, quick and devastating military strikes on military and command and control structures throughout NK followed by a massive deployment of SK and American troops into NK right up to the border with China.
2 - A steady and consistent withdrawal of making American products in Communist China. Although it will be difficult in the beginning, we can weather the economic fallout easier and recover quicker than China.
Please remember readers, those NK missiles flying over Japan today are being launched or brought to launching pads on trucks imported from China. Those same Chinese trucks will be used to launch missiles at the USA tomorrow.
2
We are repeatedly told that China holds the key to applying the only truly effective pressure on NK yet nobody in the public arena at least seems willing to analyse honestly what it is that encourages China to protect them ?
We’re told that China wants to maintain NK as a buffer state and this seems plausible for a China rapidly rising as a significant rival to the US. However, surely there are alternatives to China ending up with US missiles stationed on its doorstep should NK fall (or be pushed).
Perhaps China doesn’t care about the current predicament because they don’t see themselves as a target. Perhaps, in the bizarre world of geopolitics, China thinks that American discomfort over becoming a nuclear target to a country it is still technically at war with is a good thing! But if such American fear results in push coming to shove, the US can shove pretty hard and surely no sane person wants that.
There’s a lot of evidence that China is sane. So if they are indeed the key to this issue as claimed, and if the USA is intent on disarming NK come what may, then the USA should curtail its outraged bluster and respectfully negotiate a mutually acceptable post NK-collapse outcome with all relevant parties.
1
For Heaven's sake, why do not the US and Japan shoot down the North Korean missiles in the Japanese air space?
Apart from that, the USAF could pull out the plans of the 11 Italian aircraft overflight of Vienna in 1918, lead by the poet Gabrielle d'Annunzio, for the purpose of dropping war-propaganda leaflets. A similar overflight of Pyongyang would do good.
1
They probably don't shoot them down because they can't and they don't want the world to know it. You try hitting a projectile that size moving at Mach 25 !
I do like the leaflet idea though !
1
How long before a hacker misfires N. Korea's missile to go west (instead of east) and fall on its neighbor ?
Will that nudge the big bully to stop abetting N. Korea ?
2
Why have the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations not choked off the intellectual, financial, and material resources necessary to build these weapons? It's not like Pyongyang University is known for its outstanding physics department, nor is North Korea awash in foreign capital and domestic uranium.
With all the sanctions through the years on North Korea, why is it that those who supply the brain power, equipment, financing, and transportation necessary to develope nuclear weapons and ICBMs have not been publicly identified and sanctioned, even if that includes our allies and American corporations? Make that "especially if that includes (alleged!) allies and American corporations."
3
The images you have of NK are of men in dull olive drab standing about the leader. At the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 the north was rich the south poverty stricken. Bothe had been under Japanese control for many years and open to Japanese education and culture. The south became a major threat to American technological firms in a short time and still is, and Pyongyang is a hyper modern showpiece. People is one of NK’s major exports and students do study abroad. I taught at a school in Shenzhen with Korean students from both sections in attendance. Does that fill your picture a bit better.
The fuel came from our ally Pakistan.
1
The ambiguity over Japan's definition of self-defence is entirely understandable in the context of Japan's complex constitution and security arrangements with the US. To resolve confusion, the 'umbrella' agreement with Japan should be codified to cover Japan's defence of US Pacific Territories. It is only reasonable that Japan's security arrangements with the US and its purchase and deployment of US weapons systems should imply the use of those systems in defence of US as well as Japanese territories.
The Japanese citizens who had to take cover on two recent occasions are demanding Mr. Abe to his job as president and protect them. The South Korean government`s recent announcement concerning aid to the North increases their worry about both Koreas. If in fact the Japanese do plan to rearm their military, the Chinese will not stand by and watch.
1
The governing regime in the DPRK is clearly intent on continuing to build up a credible deterrence to its removal either by direct action or by attrition. Japan is only pacifist if the US is there to back it up. But US interests in the region dwindle or, rather, vacillate then, yes, Japan will have to purchase a multitude of military assets at an enormous price from guess where, the United States. Some things never change.
All these years, South Korea complied with international law, developed a democratic government, advanced its education and became prosperous.
There was nothing pre-ordained in the terms of the Korean War solution that would have prevented North Korea from doing the same.
What we see now is the inevitable consequence of allowing a dictatorial communist system to devolve unchecked.
China and Russia are losing their argument that the world dare not sanction Noth Korea too much, lest it become destabilized.
This is what destabilized looks like.
We need unconditional denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea and the West have abided by international law.
Why do North Korea , Chin, and Russia get to have a double standard?
3
The New York Times gets ir right or at least objective. The comments are fascinating to read. The fact that North Korea was allowed to exist with no transparency for years and years next t progressive happening South Korea is analogous to the Chechnya issue in Russia. These are vipers dens which should have been monitored years ago. This is nobody s fault & everybody s fault. Isn t it a manic crazed matriarchal figure who fueled this North Korean dictator? This Medusa should have been taken out. The homegrown terror of fanatics are as pernicious as foreign facists. This is a country now blue and grey. We need Gilbert Baker rainbow or Abraham Lincoln or Jesus. I think of innovative theater arts as expression to fight oppression repression & suppression. Dr. Larry Myers St John' s U professor and playwright penned an image laden poetic prophetic play "The Kim Sisters & World War III--fitting imagery for a fractured land of fissions. Tennessee Williams(Myers mentor) said "close yr eyes & see the symbols."
...and your point is?
1
Japan and weapons is a complex story. The pacifist character of Japan’s constitution was an imposed reality of America’s victory after a period of brutal Japanese intervention in many countries. In Japan it won favor from those who had opposed the militarism that captured the government and the resulting destructions that were to follow.
But the conservatives opposed that constitution from the start. In time America forgot the war and consistently encouraged Japan to rearm, somewhat successfully. Now North Korea is sharpening that trend and Mr. Abe is happy with it, but the Japanese population sees favor in avoiding one more go at Militarism. They may be right and Japan’s neighbors concur. America is not the decision maker in this story as Trump wishes it to be.
How is it possible that Dear Leader Don doesn't comfort Japan?
Just another example of the Great Showman working on the Putin agenda.
Japan is worth a big zero for any country to attack her. What is there to gain? Only in the context of NK or China seeing Japan as an accessory to harm them, then Japan become a target.
NK was careful to fly the missile in outer space, thus no violation of international law, plus she flew them over the least populated Hokkaido route. This is not provocation as many is led to believe. It is purely to demonstrate to US Guam is now within reach.
Japan should therefore stay calm and see this as a non event and stop provoking N Korea since this is basically a US NK dispute. Japan should stay out of this dispute if she want to avoid harm to herself. Supporting US quietly is the only option she have without drawing a harsh response from N Korea.
1
Nicely stated and very likely the reality of Japanese reaction. But journalist look for tension and excitement and unfortunately often themselves create a crisis with their reporting.
1
This is deja vu, all over again. Guess we're going to re-visit the build up to WW1, courtesy of a power vacuum, rise of nationalism, fascist presidents, technological revolution, followed by a gilded age and economic disparity. History repeats itself, even recent history.
60 plus years of Cold War with the Soviets, and we, nor they; EVER launched a missile over a land mass of the other. The Soviets never flew one over Hawaii just to show us what they could do. What Kim Jong-Un is doing is unprecedented. It should be met with a coalition; if not UNITED NATIONS response. Especially if that response is a military one. The coalition MUST include BOTH China and Russia. It IS NOT solely the responsibility of the US to do something about the man/child/puppet supposedly "leading" NK. World leaders need to call out China and Russia on where they stand concerning Jong-Un; A crackpot is one thing; a crackpot with ICBMs must be dealt with with the same kind of extremism he has shown.
2
All of the would-be experts here ignore something fundamental: no nation yet has a proven ability to hit an ICBM in its boost phase. Until that happens, everything is speculation.
1
North Korea will NEVER drop a bomb in the USA. Take that to the bank folks.
Someone they SELL it to might. Let's start thinking about this.
All the bluster is merely intended to secure Comrade's Kim's position at home.
The demonstrations of capability are a huge billboard signalling rogue groups around the world that they are about to open for business as the premiere supplier of WMDs on the black market.
And pay no attention to that man behind the curtain....
There's a line in the movie "You've got mail" that says answers to all questions can be found in "the Godfather".
What would Don Corleone do???
Belasco, et al: Capisci?
What Kim is doing is purely for internal consumption, posturing and looking toring under theough to avoid the eventual fate of Ceausescu and family at he hands of his own military or advisors. A nuclear arsenal makes him no more inherently dangerous, because he cannot use it without seeing his country obliterated - threatening conventional arms use would at least spare it nuclear retaliation. What is uncertain is whether he cares about the fate of his people, and whether he thinks he will gain respect from other countries when he demonstrates the DPRK has a nuclear capacity because he is laboring under the impression that fear and respect are the same thing. You are correct in stating that the greatest danger is proliferation, particularly to a non-state actor with little to lose, should they manage to deliver a warhead. There are very few options here, and all of them involve the loss of millions of lives - the only questions are whose, and when.
South Korea and Japan ... and possibly other asian nations ... will have little alternative but to develop nuclear weapons themselves. South Korea and Japan both have strong nuclear industries, and are capable of doing so rapidly..
The result would be a political and geo-strategic disaster for China, but this only highlights the idiocy of Chinese policy to date on North Korea. Make no mistake about it; China fostered the current regime and at least tacitly encouraged their development of nuclear weapons. But now it is China that is in fact most damaged by North Korea's aggressiveness.
The Chinese cannot "have their cake and eat it too" ... and they are beginning to see it.
3
@Lee Harrison
" Make no mistake about it; China fostered the current regime and at least tacitly encouraged their development of nuclear weapons. "
You will have a lot of trouble finding any support for your assertion; make no mistake about that. Blaming China for the Kim family policies is a mindless pursuit often seen in the comments.
Sony needs to blast the secret radio signal that will brick all north Korean Walkmen. Without ability to play their cassette tapes, the people will overthrow Kim. I know, it's not funny. But shy of evacuating Seoul and Tokyo, maybe less talk of evil empire, sanctions, and invasion would calm khim down.
1
In order to test long or medium range missiles North Korea has to overfly Japan, China or Russia so what are they to do?
Is it possible that a severe weakening of South Korea, North Korea, and Japan somehow benefits Russia and Putin? Perhaps Russia aided the North Koreans in the advancement of their nuclear program. Note that Putin was not supportive of cutting off oil to North Korea stating it would not deter North Korean military ambitions and would only result in increasing the pain of its citizens. All of the ways different countries would be affected in case of nuclear war need to be understood in order to target the best way to intervene- if in fact a best way is still possible. At this point nuclear war seems to be a matter of when and not if.
What is needed is an American policy that every missile launched from North Korea must be shot down as soon as possible and certainly immediately after it leaves NK airspace.
Did you read the article? This is impossible in the real world.
I so much agree with laws and everyone needs them and everyone should abide by them. But it sounds like Japan has handcuffed itself like America has handcuffed it's own citizens. This don't shoot till shot at will last till you run out of soldiers. Our own country has us tied down to the point we can't sufficiently react to the actions of the immigrants in our country. Yes especially the Muslims that are slowly but surely getting a foothold in the U.S. without firing a shot. Just wait till the terror strikes begin. And if we don't stop them now they will.
4
In point of fact, the "handcuffs" Japan now wears were put on it by the US when the Treaty of San Francisco was signed.
But if we Target Muslims who have very few successful attacks on US soil, what do you propose we do with all the white folks that shoot up schools? Why are they never called terrorists or Christian extremists? The Oklahoma City bombing, white guy, Unabomber Ted kazienski white guy, talk about terror opening your mail could kill you, the young Asian gentleman that killed 32 at Virginia tech, white kid at Sandy Hook elementary, the white kid that shot up a Baptist Church. Just close the borders entirely. Don't single out any group. Because last I checked crazy comes in all colors and religion has nothing to do with becoming extreme.
I'm not putting Japan down for its policies or laws. I'm saying that with the kind of restrictions they have and we have it's a good chance the other guy will get the first punch and we see it coming.
Clearly the horse is out of the barn in North Korea and nuclear weapons. Clearly that has given the regime confidence knowing that they can make threats against everyone because no one will release their arsenals and end the civilization on the earth. The perceived power this gives the regime a false sense of their ability to be a world player and not face the threat of escalating consequences. What Japan and other countries are facing is not the new nuclear arms North Korea has, but the conventional weapons, and military actions that are actually emboldened because of the nuclear threat all nations face. If they attack Japan, the US and Japan and others will have to fight them just as we fight ISIS now, as we fought Al Qaeda, and as we fought in Vietnam. Or we will decide to stay out of the fight and save our lives at the expense of our allies. This is the real threat-quagmire and endless military efforts. Japan should build whatever protection they and we feel they need-as is the case in South Korea. Deterrence needs to be to the guns, bombs, planes and ships that are not nuclear. If China or Russia take sides with North Korea, all the possible outcomes are bad. The best option now is back channel communications and stop reacting to every chirp out of the loonies north of the 38th parallel.
Actually, the better option is to act before the DPRK has a functional weapon. There are no good options, and millions are going to die whether or not we wait to act. It's time to accept this and plan accordingly.
Good idea. Draw other powerful nations into the conflict. That worked so well for Hitler and Hirohito 75 years ago.
Why have the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations not choked off the resources necessary to build these weapons? It's not like Pyongyang University is known for its outstanding physics department. With all the sanctions through the years on North Korea, why is it that those who supply the brain power, equipment, and natural resources necessary to develope nuclear weapons and ICBMs have not been publicly identified and sanctioned, even if that includes our allies and American corporations? Why not the same with shippers and financial institutions involved?
1
Excuse me, but didn't Bill Clinton have something to do with North Korea's entry into the nuclear circle?
1
The horse bolted that barn in the 1980's when the Chinese and Pakistanis assisted in getting the program started, and the DPRK mines and refines its own fissile material.
I see this as complicated until NK attacks someone. I don't think they will because they will be destroyed by whatever country they attack. However until that happens, the players on the table are SK, Japan, China, Russia, and maybe some neighboring countries.
I feel for the people there esp. North Koreans who live in this animal like prison. It's not fair for them to be treated like dogs in their own country.
I agree that the US should be the mediator but there needs to be other countries involved to combat the threat from NK. Those include Russia and China. I feel that with those countries involved it is harder to reach some kind of accord. But it must start with China and Russia then go from there. It does amaze me that NK is getting away with this from Russia and China. And that they are taking no action at all or sitting on the sidelines to see what happens.
As a former turn the cheeker and Veteran I say sooner or later he will cross the line and when he does, with his overplayed weak hand, are we Hamlet or do we neutralize him. He's a clear and present danger and China may be considering replacing him with a Chi-Com as well.
4
Japan or the US should of shot down the rocket to show NK their rockets mean nothing. WWII was 70 years ago. It's time Japan put their big boy pants on and defend themselves. I really see no reason out troops and Navy are stationed there.
6
It is time to remember and understand why the French under President deGaulle established its nuclear "force de frappe" in the 60s. Fdf was a nuclear strike force, not under NATO control, that served as an independent deterrent to the Soviet Union. DeGaulle doubted that an American president would risk the total destruction of one or more of its cities to protect western Europe. I believe the South Koreans and the Japanese are studying this policy closely and are asking the same question "WIll an American president risk an American city to protect us?" Look for a Japanese or South Korean "force de frappe" soon, I'd say.
27
I wonder which countries talk about Trump and his "stone-age thugs"?
Japan should swat down any missile that passes through or over its airspace.
4
No one needs Japan to turn back into the old empire we defeated in WW2. I would rather see the United States finish fighting the Korean War than to let Japan get its hands on nukes. I don't Kim really has the hearts and minds of the people. I think we could drop millions of leaflets on them like we did in WW2 and Iraq that tell them we will invade soon and not to resist us. I know the people that have escaped from North Korea have made videos that are freely available on YouTube are asking for us to invade and end the suffering of their nation. Lets just do it already. Lets fight one for the right reasons. Isn't this everything that they said Iraq was????? I know where the WMDs are. They are perfecting them on state sponsored TV every week. Is it because they don't have oil? Why are we letting this go on?
1
@Mark:
There's the small conplication that North Korea, with thousands of artillery pieces located in underground, reinforced bunkers, poised and ready to fire on Seoul on a hair-trigger's, would reign massive destruction on the South Korean capital.
Then there's the added reality that China would absolutely join the fray in defense of its communist client and buffer against we horrible capitalism proponents.
Aside from those inconvenient wrinkles, a preemptive strike seems like a marvelous idea . . .
1
China has too much to lose this time around to lend military support to Kim. If China can be assured that the end of Kim and NK's weapons program does not mean the end of North Korea itself -- in other words, that China's Korean flank will still be protected by a Communist buffer -- we can act with relative impunity....
1
Because two nuclear world powers are on the door step of said country. The more I read the more North Korea is being set up worse than Lee Harvey. Get Trump elected, help NK develop their weapons, either China or Russia has and is helping the development of these missiles and nukes. Every historical empire has fallen. This appears to be a very well planned attempt at our empire.
Just 70 some years ago, Japan embraced Hitler and Nazi Germany as political and military ally. Japan withdrew from the League of Nations because it wanted to keep control over Manchuria – which Japan invaded and occupied – but was opposed by the LN. This preposterous action eventually led Japan into the depth of devastating war. Japan was, indeed, more akin to today’s North Korea in many respects.
In the devastating aftermath of World War II, a question was posed in the deliberation of national assembly.
“There is a war for invasion, and there is a war for legitimate national self-defense. Shouldn’t we only renounce the former,” a Diet member asked. Then-Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida replied, “Wars often start with a so-called claim for national self-defense, therefore, allowing self-defense will end up inadvertently inducing wars.”
We will never again fight another war. Such strong determination was undeniably present in post-war Japan.
To advocate world peace and prevent a repeat of the horrific chapter in its history. If we deeply and earnestly realize the hopes of Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the unwavering determination to never again fight another war is, indeed, the biggest treasure that Japan can pride itself to the world.
7
Japan as political ally of Germany is largely true to the extent that Japan recognized and respected "the leadership of Germany and Italy in the establishment of a new order in Europe" (1st article of the Tripartite Pact of 1940). Military ally? Not really. If Japan were effectively a military ally of Germany she would have joined the Germans in the war against the Soviet Union. In fact Japan remained neutral and was indeed neutral when the Soviet Union stabbed Japan in the back and declared war on Japan on August 8, 1945.
1
“Japan is no longer needed to exist near us.”
That's pretty creepy. The US should shoot down any missile that leaves NK airspace and end these tests one way or the other.
3
What a perfect time to have a staff-reduced State Department, and a U.S. Ambassador to Japan who assumed his post fewer than two months ago...
11
Unless the "reduced staffers" know how to do more than shuffle paper, it really makes little difference...
1
Yes, now Japan can increase its military spending (thanks to NK) and Abe's cultivation of Japan's hard right. The current ROK administration has been resistant to an arms race on the peninsula, particularly in regards to nukes. Denuclearization has been, for the most part, a policy of the US. Nowadays, however, US military contractors bask in the glow of Fat Face ("Junior"/Jong Un). The White House should review the Able Archer incident of the 1980s: Mistakes happen during military exercises.
2
The only people who benefit from any of this are the military industrial complex, who are gleefully rubbing their hands together all the way to the bank. All the scaremongering, all the posturing, all the propaganda is just the world's best marketing campaign. Since when has escalating or engaging in conflict ever benefitted anyone? Japan has the right idea.... how many wars have they been a major part of since WWII? Zero? Meanwhile the US has been finding excuses to be in perpetual conflict for half a century. Lockheed, Boeing and Raytheon stand to get a large windfall and then the pharmaceutical giants will make heaps of money "treating" the maimed soldiers and irradiated civilians. Disgusting. Instead of giving insecure men more and bigger exploding toys invest more money in scientific research; it's the only way we stand a chance.
10
Obviously the NK dictator benefits from this provocation because he continues to escalate, now lobbing missiles right over Japan, a clear invasion of their airspace. Kim is not invested in our industrial military complex and gets no benefit from it selling more weapons to SK and Japan. Just imagine China's or Russia's reaction were we to lob IBMs over their territories to land in some sea or other beyond for fun.
We have an awful stupid president elected by the minority of the electorate who are deplorables. His inane tweeting has not helped the situation. We have also been involved in inane wars for half a century. However, to say that Kim's actions are irrelevant is ridiculous.
Arm up, Japan!
During the entire lifetimes of the Americans who wrote Japan's constitution during the MacArthur shogunate after World War II, it was neighboring Japan that had always been an existential threat to Koreans and Korea.
They never could have imagined that the situation might be exactly reversed one day in the future, as it now is. The pacifist clause in the J-Con is an anachronism and must go.
9
After all is said and done
Japan should develop as many defensive anti-missile systems as it can.
North Korea, if and when it launches Nuclear tipped Missiles against
Korea, Japan, Guam or the US of A, may launch whatever missiles are
left after a US of A response and where they go - who can say.
2
Time has come to let Japan build its military to face China and its allies like PAK along with the N Korea.Japan may join with other countries of positive nature and democratic values to team up.Projections are that Australia,japan,Vietnam,India ,Israel along with US and other favorable western countries will join together to put up a balance. No one wants a war but some things are not under one's control and every one should be ready just incase some thing needs to be done to protect humanity.
6
China has no need to support NK that justifies their refusal to clamp down hard on Kim. Are they enjoying watching this inane shouting match between these two "leaders?" If ever a first bomb is dropped, all bets are off. The weather is danger enough. Why turn to atomics?
9
Obviously, the Chinese leadership thinks differently - mostly about an influx of millions of refugees, radiation poisoning, and the possibility of having a US ally with a nuclear capability on its southern border.
It is time for Japan to again fully become the warrior nation it was until defeated in WWII. America needs it allies to be strong and through that strength ensure the peace we have known for nearly 65 years.
8
I wonder if the Iraqis and the Syrians and the Libyans and the Afghanis and the Cambodians and the Vietnamese and the Laotians and the Congolese feel that they have had peace for 65 years? Oh, and for that matter, the North Koreans who were "bombed to annhialation" by the US according to one account of the Korean War - where apparently more bombs were dropped than during the entire Second World War on Germany, and without a Marshall plan to aid their recovery - I wonder of the Koreans feel they had "peace"?
The lack of historical memory of the American public is astounding. Do you realise how many of these vicious regimes arose and were enabled by the destruction of the infrastructure and civil societies of those countries by American wars?
Oh yes - wars against communism, and now wars against terrorism. "Justifiable" unending war ....
Pax Americana ....
Sadly, exiled Darth Vader Steve Bannon's quote rings true:
"There's no military solution (to North Korea's nuclear threats), forget it, until somebody solves the part of the equation that shows me that 10 million people in Seoul don't die in the first 30 minutes from conventional weapons, I don't know what you're talking about, there's no military solution here, they got us."
Trump isn't helping anything, Send in Rodman, he's a better bet.
8
Mr. Bannon is hardly the person to turn to for insightful analysis of North Korea's military options. His assertion might make sense if N. Korea, in a moment of suicidal desperation, was responding to an all-out preemptive strike by the U.S. But who's talking about that? Targeted strikes using conventional weapons to damage their missile and nuclear capability are all that's needed to prevent N. Korea from becoming a world nuclear threat. If they try to rebuild their capability, then another strike would be called for.
The goal is to stop the development of their nuclear strike capability, not to overthrow their regime. If North Korea tries to respond with limited retaliation, then the U.S. responds in kind, gradually whittling down their already-feeble economy. The U.S. has all the cards right now, but that will change if North Korea is allowed to become a global nuclear threat.
"Targeted strikes using conventional weapons to damage their missile and nuclear capability are all that's needed to prevent N. Korea from becoming a world nuclear threat."
Right. Because we know precisely where these facilities are and that none of them are hidden deep underground in hardened concrete, that our missiles will reach the targets, and there will be no military response from the DPRK?
From a US perspective this may be the perfect time to forge an agreement with Japan for a THAAD equivalent. It's quite justifiable as self defense by Japan and will also put in further pressure on China to rein in Pyongyang.
3
THAAD doesn't work, that's why we never use it. It's a deterrent, not a solution.
2
If THAAD does not work, why is China so stridently against it's deployment in far away SK and Japan.
Oh by the way, russia's s300 - S500 do not work, that's why you never use them and never fired them since 2014 they've been deployed in syria.
1
China doesn't like THAAD because those assets come with significant radar installations that can observe most of eastern China's airspace.
Both Japan and South Korea should declare the intent to develop nuclear weapons if North Korea does not abandon its development. This may just get China's attention to force North Korea to abandon its program.
10
"North Korea’s Threat Pushes Japan to Reassess Its Might and Rights"
Actually, that's only minimally true.
Japan's Abe has been pushing to make Japan a potentially aggressive military power to counter growing Chinese expansionism.
Of course, since Japan invaded and occupied China before and during WWII and the Japanese committed genocide throughout Asia on a large scale, the Chinese have reason to be worried.
However, the fact that China protects North Korea in order to secure one of China's borders certainly complicates Japan's planning.
As does the fact the US economy is almost entirely dependent of cheap imports made in Chinese sweatshops.
11
Why aren't we shooting down these missile tests?
4
Because the Japanese antimissile defense system is only capable of shooting down enemy missiles on their decent phase, not on enemy missiles that are rising and in-flight to their intended destination. Even with that, the anti-missle equipment must be located at the right place at the right time. Finally, the success rate of this type of antimissile system is in the 40-50% range based on the data that I have seen. So, even if you try to shoot a North Korean missile with this existing technology, you have a good chance of failure, and by doing that, you embolden North Korea even further and humiliate yourself in the process. What is needed is better technology. That will take a commitment of political change, will and financial resources on the part of the Japanese.
4
I wonder if North Korea understands one basic difference between themselves and the US, and one justifies our reluctance to let them have nukes:
Unlike North Korea, the US suffered a large terrorist attack in 2001, killing a couple of thousand people. I can only speak for myself, but frankly, I'm not worried about North Korea using a nuclear weapon on anyone. They are too rational enough for that. What worries me about them and other states such as Pakistan and Iran (who, likewise, have a very low likelihood of using their nukes) is the possibility that well-funded terror groups like ISIS or whatever inevitably takes their place will try to buy the technology, parts, or actual weapons and use them in a large western city.
12
Formerly, I thought that being the 800 pound gorilla in the world is a good situation. I'm beginning to think otherwise. If Japan and South Korea have military forces to protect themselves. Great. It will remove us as an outsider irritant in the region. Same goes with the middle east. How about NATO and Russia. If our allies need help, we have our aircraft carriers. And if we need to destroy the entire world, we are ready to go.
2
The chief result of N.Korea's antics will be the modernization and buildup of the militaries of Japan, S.Korea, Taiwan, India, Australia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, to name a few. Ironically, this will enable those countries to better resist the expansionist ambitions of N.Korea's main benefactor and enabler: China.
8
Well Japan better get busy figuring out their response to these NK missiles landing off of their coasts. Why has it taken this long to begin with? Did they not know this was potentially going to occur? Or are their military preparations, (or lack-of), simply dependent upon the US for their defense? By all means, it's time for them to amp up their defense measures. Failure to do so could be devastating to their nation.
7
Legal arguments aside, the Japanese know that North Korea will attack them, probably with nuclear weapons, if a conflict breaks out on the Korean Peninsula. It's only logical since the US has large naval and ground forces based in Japan. The problem, once again, is really China. The Chinese have to ask themselves a question: would they rather have Japan conclude that they must have nuclear arms to offset North Korea's offensive capability, or would they prefer a missile defense system that cannot be used to strike first?
1
Time, is now our enemy. The clock continues to tick down to when North Korea has built an arsenal of H-bomb mounted ICBM's that can reach US cities. We now have less time than we previously thought, based on the rapid development of North Korean missile and H-bomb development. Obviously, China is the only country that can solve this problem without relatively devastating results. But, China will not act unless it is forced to. It is time for the US to make a decision to force the hand of China to take action. Our only viable way to do this is economically with a significant or total embargo on its exports to the US. Granted, this will wreck the Chinese, US and world economy in the short term, but is our only real effective weapon in forcing China's hand. Of course, its a calculated risk, but a good risk when you consider the alternatives. In fact, it may lead to revitalizing American manufacturing to levels unseen in decades as production of goods shifts from China to the US and elsewhere. Higher prices for goods are certain, but, that in itself may not be a bad thing considering how our current long and protracted low inflationary rates actually have a negative effect in various areas of the economy. It will be painful in the short-term. But, what is the less painful vs. the more painful: (long-term) having North Korea with untold numbers of nuclear tipped ICBM's capable of destroying multiple US cities, or having a short-term economic downturn?
3
As I read Beijing's responses today to this last NK missile (in the Guardian), this war which is now looming in the far east will ultimately be fought by China & the US - with Russia, as always, supplying aid to NK & doing anything it can to hinder & undermine the power of the US.
NK is but a convenient scapegoat. The real actors are China, the US & Russia.
4
concur very astute and they're toying with USA. Part of the problem stems from GOP chicken hawks & either we fight them now or sacrifice an American city. Either way Henry K & Ayn Ryan (speaker of the House),its boots on the ground. I say bring it on and cancel the NFL game of the week. I want the GOP to serve in the Military for once or shut their pie holes.
3
All this is a pretty predictable and intended result of the US's Pacific Pivot and redirection of its military resources into the Asian theater and concomitant refusal to deal with North Korean in any real sense.(That is stop the war games on North Korea's borders.) The resulting destabilisation has created increasing tensions and predictably a nascent arms race. This places the US as the world's largest military and the world's largest arms dealer back in the catbird seat. Now nations have to push those irrelevant social and commerical concerns regarding how they make lives better for their citizens (the butter portion of the equation) to the back burner and focus on "survival" and potential war (the "guns" part of the equation). The US as currently structured could never win in a competition in Asia with China on the question of who is your best development partner but on the question who do you want in your corner in a unstable world dominated by weapons and war it's a no brainer. Great outcome for the US military industrial complex. For Asia and the rest of the planet - not so much.
4
Japan needs to take grasp its fate with both hands. Do whatever is necessary to protect the country. World War II ended 72 years ago. It's a different country now.
3
This is all reactions to actions. Korea has to be dealt with, period. I certainly do not know what military or economic issues we can do, but I think NK will continue to escalate until it blows up.
3
I think there was a good reason we didn't want Japan to become a major military might again. Perhaps someone could show Mr. Trump a movie or something about it.
4
This article provides important background informaton for evaluating the state of the growth of post World War II global community. Even if N. Korea's present madcap display of virility cannot possibly mean the global community should take seriously the chance to allow itself to be held hostage, if only symbolically, the healthy struggle for a new global consensus that goes beyond that established for postwar cohorts after the war is welcome and inevitable. The mass of experience informing public discussion of extra-national events, obviously enough, cannot maintain the stock of assumptions motivating the war generations. Trump's cinematic return to the victory "greatness" display of the postwar period is signaling our awareness of the refreshing fact that it's not too soon to move past the rather limited defining narrative of good winning out over evil and get on with accepting the not uninviting prospects of an expanded global community of concern and opportunity. In terms of Greek tragedy, Trump is true to the rather obvious story-line dependence of sit-com consumption theatre in being the bathetic kingpin (rolling pin?) sensing a decline of powers to survive and flailing his arms at that swarm of stinging bees he sees circling his head which, in fact, it is a chemical composting response—rot before growth—filling his brain pod with swarming illusion—which is to say its in his head somewhere in his hair. It's great in any case, we know that.
1
Japan needs to rewrite its Constitution. While necessary after WWII, we are almost 90 years past the start of that conflict and the cliche that "the world is a very different place" proves that it is a cliche for good reason. Raise an army that Imperial Japan would judge worthy.
1
I think shooting down a military weapon that if flying over your airspace and that is launched from a hostile country who have made their intent clear would be in keeping with Japan's non aggressive constitution. This would have been a perfect test to see if these missile can be intercepted and destroyed in a real situation. Of course that is if the defense missiles touted by the US and allies are indeed as reliable as they say they are. Maybe we do not want to take that chance to possibly show how ineffective or unreliable they are?
5
North Korea will rule the world. Every other nation is afraid of its power and the brilliance of its leadership.
1
You, sir, have hit the nail on your head -- whoops! The nail on the head?
1
North Korea is a prickly problem for all the world, not just Japan.
2
Japan should have shot down the DPRK's missile over Japanese airspace - it is a danger and a threat to Japanese sovereignty and to shipping and aircraft in the path and location the missile impacts the ocean. Japan should warn little Kim that any further military intrusion - including missiles - by the DPRK into Japanese territory, territorial waters or airspace to be an act of war.
Even destroying a missile on the launch pad is a reasonable act of self defense as it realistically could be a real attack. Would the USA sit back and let Iran, or Russia practice shooting ICBMs over our country even if they land in international waters? What about the vessels from many countries at risk of being hit navigating in international waters?
Hopefully Japan would feel obligated to shoot down any missile headed towards the USA.
Why is the USA is not shooting these missiles down - even as practice by the destroyers within international or Japanese waters?
5
THE issue is nuclear weapons. Eliminate nuclear weapons in North Korea and the threat is reduced exponentially. Eliminate nuclear weapons everywhere and forever.
2
Why is US not threatening to let Taiwan develop nuclear weapons of its own if China wouldn't help denuclearize North Korea?
2
Any military action by N.Korea invading Japanese airspace needs to be shot down immediately. What's the problem? Just do it.
4
What if we can't?
What if we try and miss?
Japan is confused. In the aftermath of WWII the country decided that totally disarming was necessary after it's leaders proved capable of terrible and aggressive behavior. Instead of guaranteeing through their political process that this would not be repeated, they have completely abdicated their ability to defend themselves and left it to their allies. This is the equivalent of watching your family being physically threatened and asking your cousin to defend them. How can a country maintain it's national pride and identity when it doesn't trust itself to protect it's own citizens from real aggression?
3
"Japan is confused. In the aftermath of WWII the country decided that totally disarming was necessary after it's leaders proved capable of terrible and aggressive behavior."
This isn't quite accurate. A demilitarized Japan was the result of disarmament demands imposed by the US and signed into treaty during the post-war occupation, not only for the sake of the US but also neighboring Asian nations that had suffered Japanese war aggression. The same treaty also gives the US the right to maintain military bases on Japanese soil.
This made sense in the late 1940s and 1950s, but the world has changed since then, and the Japanese should be allowed to beef up their military capabilities for their own interest of self-defense.
11
Good clarifying context ..... thanks.
1
If it were the Japan before the WW2, it would have already attacked and completely destroyed not only NK but several other places, too. Of course, few Japanese want to come back to such occasions presently, but...
2
The Japanese should be patient and keep their powder dry.
The Northern Koreans eventually will run out of missiles, if we ignore the little savages.
Stopping the Russians from further arming these heathen bandits in North Korea, might be a more effective action.
1
Just shoot down that missile before it goes over Japan or at least try. I mean, what better time than now to see if these anti missile systems works or don't.
4
Normally the USA should help stabilize the world against unnecessary wars and confrontations, but with a deplorable president here at home, we may start a world war soon.
4
So where is the "fire and fury"???
Donnie is supposed to be soooo manly.
And you thought Obama's red line with Syria was a joke.....stay tuned
4
The Con Don is pressing all these small countries into "gunning up", just as the NRA is promoting the "gunning up" of America. He wants WAR. He wants to put "his" generals to work. The little Donny playing with his toy soldiers. NO.
The International Mafia Top 1% Global Financial Elite Robber Baron/ Radical religion Good Old Boys Cabal would love the world to be in total chaos. While we are busy trying to survive and save our families from their hate-anger-fear-violence-drug-WAR-Lies,Lies,Lies campaign they will take over every government and pocket the profits of OUR hard-earned taxpayer-funded treasuries and sign HUGE government contracts for themselves to put us so far into debt we will never get out.
IF WE LET THEM. We The People must stop them now, before they can cause further destruction.
16
Let see... What have we got here? About 100% of experts admit there is no acceptable military solution to the North Korean problem. Add to that almost all experts admit trusting even the most modern and expensive "defensive" anti-missile systems to work requires an almost religious suspension of disbelief. Apparently, according to Mr. Cronin, "you have to be somewhat lucky at this point" if you are depending on them for your survival . Given all this what are Trump and the neocons proposed solution? Everybody buy more weapons!
Good news? More money for the bloated US military industrial complex and a racheting up in tensions in Asia that will lead to ... more arms sales! (What's the opposite of a virtuous cycle?) Bad news? This idiocy could kill us all.
29
It is not the case at all that "about 100% of military experts admit there is no acceptable..."
you mean risk-free. What risk is acceptable weighs the risks of allowing North Korea to become evey more dangerous. Why do you consider that to be "acceptable?"
There are times to be a pacifist and times to take action. Note Albert Einstein's change of heart as he watched the rise of Hitler. Perhaps the biggest mistake in history was allowing the Germans (Nazis) to rearm. However, this was complicated by the fact that a lot of war materiel production was done in secret underground, BUT NOT THE WARSHIPS!
As an old Vietnam War protestor, there is only one solution to this North Korean problem. The little Hitler/Stalin will not be giving up his nuclear capabilities or ambitions. Anyone who thinks so is remarkably naive.
The USA cannot do this preemptively because Seoul will get hammered with hardened artillery (and short range missiles). Therefore, only China can behead the regime. This should be straightforward. Amass about 200,000 troops on the border between China and NK. Tell NK, in particular the general staff, that they can either turn over the little punk to them and cooperate or they too will be removed. They will quickly turn on the punk. He will either have to go into exile (China can offer that to him) or the generals will have to kill him. China takes over NK. And, the whole thing can be done with an offer for the US to remove troops from SK. This is the only solution. Sanctions will not work against a megalomaniac like the little Hitler/Stalin. This just isn't the same as Iran. He just won't give up those nukes.
38
Perfect solution- except that China will not follow your advice. They are not even willing to cut off the runts oil supply.
2
That might work, but the South Koreans might have great anxiety with China then occupying the former NK. And it would cost China a pretty penny to take NK over... China also fears that a collapse of NK would send millions over its border.
How about getting the US, China, Russia, South Korea all together and, with great pressure from China, propose to NK that in exchange for a security guarantee from China and perhaps Russia, NK completely abandon it nukes and the US withdraws from SK and SK and NK formally and mutually agree to nonaggression and NK eliminate its rockets and artillery north of the DMZ? Kim is a punk for sure, but we should hear their fears are and what they desire.
If that doesn't work, then mass the troops.
1
China's one of Kim's two sanctions-evasion enablers (despite their public stance at the UN), so nope.
The other, of course, has a name that starts with a "P" and ends with an "utin". China will push them even less, so that leaves one other superpower that can check them—but its undemocratically-chosen so-called leader gets checks *from* them.
So yeah, the fate of the world is with Mueller.
1
A lax or cowardly foreign policy, especially one that involves the President insulting our allies, is unacceptable in the face of North Korea. We should stand firm and provide military and moral support to all of our allies. The other option - non-interventionism- will come with obvious implications. They will seek to defend themselves instead. It should be the job of the United States to act as a mediator who can restrain nations from going to war. That means upholding our traditional role as a calm but staunch defender of democracy - demanding things from our allies and making idle threats against our enemies won't do.
19
"North Korea’s Threat Pushes Japan to Reassess Its Military"
And there are dozens of US companies that will line up to sell them weaponry, hence the hardline stance of virtually every politician and corporate-media news source in response to N Korea's understandable desire to develop nuclear deterrence.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/jan/18/johngittings.martinkettle
https://www.thenation.com/article/can-united-states-own-its-war-crimes-d...
The Ukrainian weapons institute Yuzhnoye, provides NK with the most modern solid fuel rockets, Iran/Pakistan have sold their nuclear weapons instructions to NK, China provides all the oil NK needs. Russia employs NK manpower. The latter two (China and Russia consider the US as a bully and aggressor).
And the world expects to slow down Kim Jong Il with an infinite string of sanctions?
What kind of diplomatic efforts did prevent Hitler from setting the world on fire?
And the chaotic UN Security Council expects to stop demented Kim Jong Il from setting the world on fire?
5
Kenell Touryan comes close to expressing an important idea.
Look at it from the other direction. In the opinion of America's Code Pink and of many others in America and around the world, the USA is the greatest threat to world peace. The world would be better off if it was the USA that had a pacifist constitution forbidding the existence of offensive forces. That the world is better off with more countries that have nuclear ICBMs aimed at the USA. And a few dropped on America killing a few millions and damaging the US economy might be richly deserved and not a bad thing...
We in the USA have to consider such attitudes in our own midst, and around the world.
Having suffered & recovered from a recent terrible Tsunami (2011) & having already experienced the only nuclear attacks in any country (Hiroshima & Nagasaki) during our lifetimes, Japan could be forgiven their current fears over NK's direct provocations & the public's hesitancy over any military solutions.
They are in a particularly vulnerable position & one which none of us would envy.
3
It is clear that we have been approaching this whole problem incorrectly. A shift in the global geopolitics is clearly underway. We can pretend it is not, but it is. The sooner we accept it and respond to it the better. We also need to acknowledge it is not entirely within our control. The U.S. still offers the world good things, but the terms of the agreement need to be renegotiated.
The problem in the North Korean scenario the U.S. is confronted with has not been properly assessed in the press or by experts for that matter--at least not publicly. The reasons for the Sino-Russo support of North Korea are still valid to those parties--essentially curtailing U.S. power and influence. However, the relevance of the U.S. arrangement between Japan and South Korea is not as clear.
I think we should give them a choice and be prepared to live with the result. They should be with us on this matter or be prepared to have us pull out and leave them on their own. We cannot have an alliance of convenience--especially when it serves them as well.
Everyone forgets that for all America's faults, it has kept the peace for decades. If the Tokyo and Seoul prefer an emboldened Peking and Pyongyang, so be it, they will be affected more directly than we will. We've been doing them a favor--maybe it's time they realized it.
If our allies are on board, it will strengthen American resolve and change the dynamics of this confrontation, which is about the will to fight, not nuclear deterrence.
12
"Everyone forgets that for all America's faults, it has kept the peace for decades."
Which peace is that I wonder.
It's pretty remarkable that an isolated, repressive, and impoverished nation has acquired an arsenal of nuclear weapons and is now blithely threatening to “sink” a nearby peaceful and prosperous nation with those weapons because it believes that nation “is no longer needed to exist near us.” It is perhaps even more remarkable that the public in that second nation is, in the face of this apparent threat, “torn about developing [its] military capabilities.” What can explain this inability to grasp reality? A military alliance with the most powerful nation on earth can explain some, but not all, of it.
Perhaps the rest of the explanation lies in the same post-WW2 neurosis we've seen Germany suffer from over the years – most recently, in its willingness to subsidize the formerly spendthrift Greeks and unblinkingly welcome over a million Muslim refugees who (if the data from similar refugee experiences are to be believed) will likely never successfully integrate into the economy or culture of their host and remain a taxpayer burden for decades. I'm not suggesting that the Japanese are as consumed by guilt or masochism as the Germans – that would be nearly impossible – but, still, at some point, both these nations are going to have to grow up, put their big boy (and girl) pants on, start seeing a shrink about their neuroses, and become clear-headed and responsible adults.
39
If welcoming refugees originating from reckless US and European meddling to naively advance democracy or if financially shedding a minimum amount of profit from maintaining a high value currency means being a child then please Germans, don't grow.
North Korea is playing a dangerous game of chess. It seems that they have identified that all the major players that could constrain its reckless moves are now stuck in a zugzwang-like situation. Anyone who makes a serious move will make the situation worse and incur serious risks. They seem to bet that no one will move but someone will move in the end and make a bad situation truly worse.
15
Japan's citizens are rightly concerned about the North Korean threat, but their concern is grounded in the loss of confidence in the U.S's willingness to stand up to the threat. U.S. indecision and empty threats are destabilizing the entire area.
Clearly North Korea will not be deterred in its nuclear ambitions, either by tough but pointless U.S. rhetoric, nor by sanctions, Further, there is no reasonable hope that China will assume a leadership role in solving this crisis. At this point, the only viable option is military intervention.
The argument against military intervention is worry about a catastrophic retaliatory strike against Seoul, Guam, and Japan. While understandable, that risk is minimal if the U.S. launches focused, limited attacks that shoot down N. Korean missiles, blow up their launching sites and destroy nuclear weapons facilities. It is not necessary to destroy their entire capability, because The North Koreans understand that any broad retaliation would be suicide, bringing immediate death to their entire regime. The point is to stop the development of their nuclear capability, not to destabilize their country.
North Korea is a poor country and can ill afford a missile and nuclear program that gets thwarted at each step. Is there a risk to this strategy? Of course, but that risk is small compared to the nightmare of a North Korea with fully developed nuclear capability. North Korea must be stopped immediately and unequivocally.
44
What do you propose to do about the artillery that will rain down death and destruction on Seoul and its environs, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands Koreans? Why aren't they being considered in your analysis of the risks of military intervention?
2
No, the only viable option is to grind it out and be patient, continue to enforce and strengthen sanctions, and maintain pressure in all the right places.
Kim Jong Un is in terrible health and has no heir apparent. There is no viable path forward for a Kim-less NK. The country will fall into chaos when he's gone. Although it may not be a bloodless transition, there is good reason to hope that some rational heads exist and will come forward when the Kim regime is gone.
The only conceivable military option is to find a way to speed Kim's early demise. Again, this may not lead to instant peace, but NK is far less of a threat if the head of its cult of personality is detached.
1
Are you serious? "Focused, limited attacks that shoot down N. Korean missiles, blow up their launching sites, and destroy nuclear weapons." Wouldn't that be nice? What about the tens of thousands of conventional mortars that they'd use to kill hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people in Seoul?
1
Neither Japan nor South Korea have any need for nuclear weapons of their own. Clearly, the US is in a position to provide a devastating nuclear response if necessary so why contribute to nuclear proliferation and additional risks?
There is no deterrent to the North's ambitions, beyond US military might, which further reduces the notion of our allies needing nuclear weaponry of their own. But at some point the North is going to make a grave mistake, either intentionally or accidentally. Presumably, the US and our allies will proceed accordingly and avoid the use of nuclear devices.
We don't necessarily need nukes to take out Kim and his stone age thugs.
10
Japan has the right and duty to defend its people in cooperation with the US. China and Russia need to think a lot harder about fully reining in North Korea because the continued existence and threat from North Korean nukes means all other nuclear capable nations in the region will eventually realize they need a proportional nuclear capability to defend themselves against the NK threat.
1
Does U.S. intelligence keep 24/7 track of North Korea's leader's whereabouts?
I understand that "taking him out" implies collateral damage and a possible diaspora of North Koreans escaping their country to invade China and South Korea as migrants, but in the balance of risks, isn't his death the most productive choice in the event of his having ordered even a practice run attack on any foreign government?
5
I've thought for some time that assassination teams from a number of powers might be seeking to put an end to Kim. The fact that no one has yet eliminated him, and no one eliminated his father or grandfathers, makes me think his personal defense team must be quite skilled. One little item that didn't get much play here is that this missile shot comes right after the Republic of Korea let it be known they were putting together an assassination team of their own. I suspect the missile shot was a reaction to this news.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/world/asia/north-south-korea-decapita...
Instead of a useless and divisive wall at our Southern border, shouldn't we embarked on a Manhattan Project-style program to develop overlapping systems that will keep us safe from rogue-state missiles?
1
North Korea aims its missiles over Japan because the alternatives would immediately invoke anger from China and/or Russia. If China and Russia can't control the DPRK they will see their own territory in the midst of nuclear conflagration. Time for Putin and Xi to take Kim to the woodshed and teach him how to behave before it's too late.
15
From a distance, things may be seen with some clearity here: NK - up to the present days - relies on ist very loyal & equally suportive alies in China and Russia. Kim has only started to blackmail the free world. And, maybe within 6 to 18 months, we'll remember our very bad today options as the tragically not taken ones in the past.
Hopefully, Mattis, Tillerson and McMaster have a clear Picture of their closing window of opportunity to act and put an end to this horror. Hopefully, they also do not get stopped by their boss. With a rogue Regime starting to blackmail the world with nukes, there is simply too much at stakes for all of us.
The proper response to the North Korean missile fired over Japan and clearly violating her airspace, would have been to SHOOT-IT-DOWN! ... PERIOD, OVER, AND OUT!
Since when would a response to defending your own airspace be considered by ANYBODY to be a provocation?
Had it had been Japan fired who had fired an offensive missile, over NK, what do you suppose would have happened? We all know what would have happened. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMMEDIATELY SHOT DOWN!
Would ANYBODY have then accused NK of provoking Japan by defending its own airspace? We all know the answer to that ...NO!
And as for the silly notion that NK is putting China in a bad position, that is simply not true.
Those who believe that nonsense are believing exactly what these two criminal nations want the world to believe.
WAKE-UP! It is China's huge support for NK that is allowing NK to continue unabated with her dangerous behavior.
They are covertly working together! Good cop ... Bad cop!
2
One would think that China would see the folly in supporting a regime who's primary result is a massive buildup of pro-western military forces in their region.
8
China is not our friend. Don't be naive. They have their own strategic goals to be gained from this confrontation. It's the US that has everything to lose.
1
Q: What would China do if North Korea and the United States go to war?
A: Nothing! Nada!
Big China is no longer ruled by the CCP where you see communists advocating solidarity international, class warfare against capitalism, all properties belong to the state, and wealth is divided equally …
This time around big China is ruled by the CPC, which is a bureaucratic party where many of its members are wealthy successful businessmen… For the CPC China’s economic growth is more important than NK’s problems…
So, the time to liberate the North Korean people has arrived!
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It may very well be that Kim has taken the measure of Trump and decided that he is a gutless blowhard who can be depended on to do the exact opposite of whatever he says.
Still -- you got to wonder how he could ever have come up with a nutty idea like this.
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The time to reassess is over. There is need for action. When you have a mad dog attacking you, you put it to sleep.
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Roy, you are right. The problem with this uggly pitbull is - as always - the people at the other end of the leash: Xi and Putin. They love to see the mad dog menacing all civilized nations...and they will not pull him back, until they sey you comming with big deadly hammer made of steel.
The question is, if the US-administration is wise and determined enough to put an end to this uggly piece of theater...just as JFK did in 1962?
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