Japanese hawks soar on Korea fears (Regime Change For North Korea?)

Asian Times ^ | 26 November 2003 | Tim Shorrock

[shrinkermd]

This article either functions as a threat to Kim Jong and his family or is prescient discussion of Japan re-arming. In either case the temper and climate in Asia is about to change.

[nuffsenuff]

The Shogun are returning?

[tkathy]

Yet another sleeping giant is getting their dander up.

[Semper Paratus]

Nippon is getting ready for an "Independence Day "Momement.

"Hi boys. Remember me! I'MMMMM BACK!"

[bonesmccoy]

Japan will NOT be renuked by any nation.

PERIOD.

[aegiscg47]

I agree. I'll bet they could turn out a nuclear weapon in 24 hours if they needed to. Plus, the Japanese Navy and air force are the best in the region after us. Definitely not a country that you want pissed off at you.

[zygoat]

"Japan will NOT be renuked by any nation. PERIOD."

Do you doubt that Red China has missiles targeted on Japan at this very moment? An escalation of tensions in that region could result in just such a scenario. Unless Japan has an advanced SDI system that we are not aware of,it is entirely possible. And in TODAY'S world, who knows?

Never say never.

[Shermy]

In either case the temper and climate in Asia is about to change.

Ya know, if I had a crazy neighbor who publicly bragged he was going to make nukes and bioweapons, use them, and even sell them to others, I might be a little scared too...

[bonesmccoy]

I would prefer to have the Japanese on our side than against.

Nuking the Japanese is not what we should be thinking of... if for no other reason, they are the second strongest economy on Earth and have significant markets for our goods.

[bonesmccoy]

If the Japanese believe that either Red China or NorKor are about the missile them, they have ALREADY stated that they will engage in pre-emptive strikes... with or WITHOUT the US.

That tells me that they don't give a rip about Rummy's opinions regarding Okinawa.

They will hit withOUT consulting Washington if they think Pyongyang or Beijing are about to strike.

[Steel Wolf]

Weldon recently led a small, bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers to Pyongyang and returned saying he believed a deal was in sight in which North Korea would end its nuclear program in exchange for written guarantees of its security

Wow, that's all they wanted? Man, why didn't we send this master negotiator over sooner? To think that we've been worried all this time for nothing. Were it not for Bush's unilateralist foriegn policy, we would be able to have an honorable peace with North Korea. There could be peace in our time.

[JoeSchem]

To some observers, Agawa's comments illustrate an alarming lurch toward militarism in Japan and show how quickly Japan has forgotten its own legacy in colonial Korea and its role as a US military supply base during the Korean War.

Let me get this straight, because bad people living in geographical region A hurt good people living in geographical region B over sixty years ago, the good people living in geographical region A must now stand passively by as bad people in geographical region B hurt them.

You can tell a leftist wrote the article, because no decent human being would argue that a genocidal tyranny should go unopposed.

[Grampa Dave]

How about both!

[sheik yerbouty]

The Russkies have essentially said the same thing regarding Kim The Insane, as they do not want radiation wafting over Vladivostock.

[Ronin]

I have told everyone who will listen, there is no telling what Japan will do because they themselves don't know -- yet.

But one thing that the 17 years I have spent in this country has taught me is that when Japanese public opinion changes, it changes radically and totally. The socialists and communists are now totally discredited and the "peace constitution" is on it's last legs. Rearmament, specifically including nuclear weapons, is a definite possibility.

In fact, if there is anyone who thinks that Japan does NOT have nuclear weapons, or at least pre-fabricated parts ready for assembly into nuclear weapons, I have some nice options on prime Florida real estate to sell them.

I think, and this is just a hunch based on my amateur reading of the Japanese psyche, that if Al Queda is dumb enough to launch a terrorist attack in Japan, they will definitely reawaken the spirit of Japanese militarism and the results will be profound for Asia and the world.

[DarthMaulrulesok]

Japanese rearmament will be a splendid lever for us to use on China! Of course, the real immoralitiy will be letting a regieme that starves it's own people and threatens us have yet ANOTHER agreement that they can break later.

[gaijin]

ditto.

[B-Chan]

Proposed Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer-based "aircraft carrier" (DDH)

“A proposed 13,500 ton helicopter-carrying destroyer, similar in design to a small aircraft carrier, would provide the Maritime Self-Defence Force with greater capability for force projection. A total of three SH-60J and one MH-53E will be carried. These new units are intended to replace the Shirane and Haruna classes of Helicopter Destroyers, with at least four ‘air capable surface combatants’ under study. The officially released design is a unique configuration that features forward and aft helicopter pads with a hanger in the center. Alternative designs are of more conventional layout, and more strongly resemble a normal aircraft carrier.

On 15 December 2001, the Japanese Government approved a new mid-term procurement plan for its Self-Defense Forces totaling 25,160 billion yen (US$223.6 billion) over the next five years. The new procurement plan allows the building of two DDH helicopter escort vessels. In fact, this kind of ship is a type of light aircraft carrier, with its dead weight reaching 13.5 thousand tons and its gross weight 20,000 tons with fuel, water and weapons, beyond the current patrol vessel. In service date will be after 2004.”

[Source]

[bonesmccoy]

Yes, a few Grays of radiation really suck. Here's a graph that allows you to extrapolate the medical effects of a relatively low-yield nuclear device.

[bonesmccoy]

Double DITTOS.

AQ is really dumb. Not only do they P.O. Jews and Christians, but they destroy 2000 year old Buddhas... alienating the billions of confucian and buddhist people in Asia.

I'm sure that if the bad guys have a death wish, the combined talent of the United States, Japan, Russia, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and the coalition of the willing will be happy to oblige.