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Japan wary of N Korea's summit agreement with South, overtures to U.S.

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I wouldn't trust the USA or Japan to keep any promises I advise DPRK keep some nukes,

demand cessation of USA and allies military exercises, reduce USA nuke stockpile to same number as DPRK,

have same number of overseas military bases as DPRK which is none and on and on.

-9 ( +8 / -17 )

It's right to be skeptical. Not a single time in the past 3 decades has NK kept true to its word, so the chance that this will lead to the complete denuclearization of NK is almost 0. However the ball is now not in their court; if NK reneges on this latest appeasement campaign, they are almost certainly done and not even the useful idiot could defend them

6 ( +17 / -11 )

One simple reason for this wariness: Abe's popularity depends on North Korea remaining a threat and Abe acting the tough guy. He's got virtually nothing else.

2 ( +17 / -15 )

Hahahaha.... Japan's spent far too long using NK as the bogeyman for it's increased military budgets, Constitutional change justification, need to appease other nations, and other excuses. They don't WANT peace in the region because that would mean an end to the "necessity" for weapons contracts, a new military, increased US presence in the region, said Constitutional change, etc. On top of that, peace between NK, SK, and now the US is hopping on board, means Abe is going to have to face the music with his push to isolate and for other nations to go against NK. Now it's going to be ONLY Japan pressing these sanctions, and therefore the only one that will still be threatened and things held from them. Abduction issue resolved? Not with the J-government's attitude. Never. Progress at nuclear talks? Only if Japan is not present, which they will cry foul about.

No saving face on this one, friends. Abe needs to hang his head and admit NK has beat him again.

-3 ( +14 / -17 )

Not a single time in the past 3 decades has NK kept true to its word

I don't want to be a defender of the North Korean regime, but that statement is not completely true. The Agreed Framework of 1994 put a halt to NK's nuclear arms program for eight years. It was the United States, Japan, and South Korea who failed to provide the North with the two light water reactors that were promised under the agreement. Things got worse from that point, intensifying especially when G.W. and Cheney decided not to negotiate anything.

The fact is that North Korea is now a nuclear power with considerable missile technology. NK is not going to give that up. The world is going to have to accept that terrible reality while making sure the worst case scenarios are avoided. Contain the threat and de-escalate tensions. Threats and sanctions haven't, and won't, work. Smart negotiations are the only way forward.

3 ( +14 / -11 )

“If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected .”

hmmm now lets put that in laymans terms that really sounds alike to there strategy all along...

If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. re: NK has increased and tested their armament while defeating over 25 yrs. of sanctions. Attacked SK points throughout the year vs SK attacking and always on defensive.

 2. If he is in superior strength, evade him. NK has stayed away and recently concentrated in weapons build up, attacked only when they knew they had advantage..continued with mind games.

If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. " Well have been doing that for the last 25 yrs..

Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. Yep the might of those vs NK does seem at time arrogant. No matter which way one looks at it if in the vicinity of a shelling people will die.

If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. Up until recently their testing and weapons buildup continues without slowing down.

If his forces are united, separate them.  Olympics really showed the SK, US, Japan alliance weakening under the traitor Chinese sympathizer Moon. Division continues today as Russia and China continue to squeeze.

If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. There is division growing between Japan and SK with the US caught in the middle, I'd say that is division enough as the MOON continues to divide Japan and moving more towards China.

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected .”

Trojan horse.? we will have to see because frankly the so called experts have been all wrong..

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Just when he almost changed article 9, this happpens. And he has already bought all those US weapons. Talk about a bad day! Would hate to be his dog.

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

Just comment and share your opinion. Save the Art of War for yourself.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I agree with plastic monkey that NK might agree to a moratorium on developing its nuclear program but it's not going to just give it up and denuclearize .

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The North Korean's nuclear blacmail tactic is working very well and they will keep that tactic in a routine endures for a quite long time!

7 ( +11 / -4 )

not to bad for the US - but time to make some fresh enemies and threads so they be able to find buyers. The sale with Japan was quite a deal, so time to move on I guess _

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

This is little Kim's version of "rope-a-dope" and it looks like his southern brethren may fall for it...

3 ( +6 / -3 )

"Pyongyang has expressed readiness to start a dialogue with the United States."

In order for North Korea to "roll back" their nuclear program, they obviously must already have a robust nuclear program that can reach the US just like US nukes can reach North Korea. For Trump to agree to sit down with Kim is to agree to acknowledge North Korea as a nuclear power. Trump refuses to do this very thing. North Korea understands real negotiation: always negotiate from a position of strength. Now that North Korea can adequately defend themselves and do substantial harm to anyone who confronts them, they are now ready to negotiate. Trump may "respect" strength, but he doesn't like it. Trump likes to exploit the very thing he possesses: weakness. Trump is also a grifter. Now that Kim has agreed to talks, Trump will make excuses instead and expose his incompetence. Dotard is an apt name for the current occupant of the White House. He has absolutely no idea what he's doing. But Kim knows exactly what he's doing...

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Suga wants HK to abandon its nuclear and missile development but what about removing US military bases from Japan, shat about removing US nuclear arms from Japan? Has Suga forgotten what the US did to Japan? Why doesn’t Suga demand that the US abandon their nuclear and missile program?  Japan, regain your sovereignty and stop groveling to the US.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Until Phat Boi and many of his aides are gone, I don't think North Korea will ever be safe. What a total mess of a country. Poor people who try to live there, eating grass instead of rice. Venezuela almost as bad, 'Bama's hero Hugo Chavez ruined that country. Communism for you.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Japan is weary of peace between the two Korea, and in turn, peace in the region. It's harder for them to justify their militarization.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Japan has no choice but to establish talks with North Korea.

The US and South Korea would sell out Japan in a heartbeat

For South Koreans, blood is indeed thicker than water, and they would never ever side with Japan against their brothers up north. Both have a pathological and irrational anti Japanese hated that will never end.

The US and Trump would sell out Japan in a heartbeat.

Despite what the anti Japan crowd out there would have you believe, Japan isn't the 'aggressor' in that region. Last time I checked Japan wasn't lobbying missiles towards any Asian country. It is the Koreas and China that is preaching hatred against Japan.

So Japan needs to make best of this situation and open dialogue with North Korea further without the US.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Does Abe understand "the Art of War" ? If he does, he would change the peace constitution. "The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected."

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

Does Abe understand "the Art of War" ? If he does, he would NOT change the peace constitution.

sorry for the typo in AkieToday 12:25 am JST

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

The US and Trump would sell out Japan in a heartbeat.

OK. You don't like Trump. You must have done quite a lot of research to come up with such a clear geopolitical conclusion.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Does Abe understand "the Art of War" ? If he does, he would NOT change the peace constitution.

Where is China's peaceful constitution? About as far away from that ideal as its possible to get. They are busy army themselves to the hilt.

The U.S will never abandon Japan and expose it to the whims of North Korea, China or anybody else. Not something the Japanese government need worry about.

Japan and South Korea are the leading examples of democracy in Asia and they will be defended at all costs by all parties and all allies.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Is Abe more worried about this peace summit than Kim lobbing missiles over Japan?

If Shinzo had the guts to have an independent foreign policy and took the initiative to have direct talks with NK and commenced with humanitarian aid then Nippon could have been back as a leader in the world stage.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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