Posted on 08/07/2007 10:43:29 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
While many nations are breathing a collective sigh of relief after North Korea's official commitment to move forward on disabling its nuclear facilities, one country is still holding its breath: Japan.
After decades of North Korean military provocation, Kim Jong Il has a big problem on his hands, as the Japan of old is transforming into an increasingly more muscular nation, one less hesitant to use force.
Relations between the two countries have long been contentious and distrustful. From Pyongyang's perspective, Japan's military alliance with the United States and its history of harsh colonial rule have remained impediments to normal relations. From Tokyo's perspective, North Korea's brazen abduction of Japanese nationals during the late 1970s and early 1980s, its repressive authoritarianism, and its flagrant militarism make North Korea a repellent neighbor. North Korea's bellicosity has emboldened the conservatives who govern Japan and hardened public opinion against North Korea. It has also made Japan stronger. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was repudiated at the polls for ignoring domestic issues, but popular concern about North Korea - a flame Abe long has fanned - has not abated. Indeed, if anything, Japanese citizens are more concerned because they are less certain of the U.S. commitment to the issues they care most about.
Given North Korea's military antics over the past decade, it has been easy for the Japanese public to perceive Pyongyang's militarism and persistent provocations as Japan's greatest security threat - one much less ambiguous than China's . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
I didn’t know Obama was Japanese.
Ichiro Ozawa is going to fix that...
Yes, according to the Times (UK) piece the military alliance is already in danger. Oh, who to believe, who to believe.
I do like that the IHT got its usual dig in on the U.S., though, in the form of America being unwilling or “unable” to provide Japan the reassurance it needs. Ah, the decline of America continues.
Well when the US navy sails away from their shores they can feel more “secure”...
A more muscular Japan, you say...
“The Tabata Protocol is not an action flick. It’s a Japanese training technique, using basic body-weight exercises, that’s been shown to improve aerobic and anaerobic fitness by as much as 28 per cent in six weeks.”
http://au.blogs.yahoo.com/mens-health/1144/push-your-limitsaerobics/
/threadjack :o)
Oh reary?
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