Abe calls N Korea's H-bomb test threat to Japan's security

I'm with you Abe.

Can't disagree with this one. My only concern is that the UN assignment is going to become a channel through which Japan tries to make all issues related to Japan into world issues. In this case, if done with regards to the UN security council agreements it is perfectly relevant, but if Japan goes on the world stage at a UN meeting, in the UN position and not as Japan, they cannot start talking about how it is a security threat to Japan that is the issue.

"He called it a violation of the U.N. Security Council agreements that is against the global efforts toward nuclear disarmament."

They also need to tread lightly because Japan JUST sent its second largest shipment of plutonium to the US -- enough to make 50 nuclear bombs.

not so related to the news but the earthquake alert on the TV got me thinking: what if a desister with the Tohoku proportions takes place in North Korea and they simply can't hide it from the world? Hungry people (including soldiers) simply not afraid of the regime anymore? Masses fleeing to China & South Korea? Foreign efforts coming "by force" to help? Kim dinasty collapses?

But, how much truth is there in it? Does North Korea have the means and location to test a H-bomb? This is more likely to be fictional propaganda than truth.

One thing that troubles me is that Japan has not a single nuclear shelter for public.

Abe told reporters: “We absolutely cannot allow this, and condemn it strongly.”

The fact is, Abe-san, there is mistress sweet Fanny Adams you can you can do about it unless you are prepared to have Japan invade Korea (again).

On a rare occasion I agree with something that come out of his mouth, though as others point out, unless someone is prepared to go to war over it (would china "allow" that probably not).. its not going to change anything.

All nuclear weapons are a potential threat to every Nations security!

Abe called it "a violation of the UN Security Council agreements" , true but it's not like NK cares about the UN, since they have never been a member and have ignored them before.

Other than attacking NK, I don't know what "strong actions" Abe is referring to? I don't believe going to war with any country that possesses nuclear weapons is a good idea, I imagine they would use any and all means to defend before allowing their country to loose.

Although they may not say much, China can't be too thrilled about it. The explosion took place not too far from their border. It's not at all clear that NK has the ability to make an h-bomb small enough to fit in one of their missiles, although they arguably just got a bit closer to that.

Panic, panic, panic. In TV action, we saw the Japanese Defense Minister come running in to government headquarters as if the sky had fallen in. Then we see a scared looking Foreign Minister come darting in as if everything were going bananas. They sure looked like they weren't in control of anything.

That North Korea exploded a hydrogen bomb should be no surprise. After all, hadn't it been expected somewhere down the road? Therefore, I believe their reactions should have been much calmer ... entering as if they were in charge of the situation. Not showing ... well ... panic.

North Korea should be warned again that if they do anything drastic not only will their beloved statues of their dear leaders be reduced to dust but their Marxist government, too. If they play with fire, they will be burnt by their actions.

It was not a H bomb, but a A bomb. It was too conventional to be a H.

All I can say is that the Obama administration is once again in denial of threats and treating this as it was a small thing, perhaps but unlike the talk and hot air that comes out of Washington one thing can be said about Kim Jun Un he may be a lunatic but at least he does what he says he will do and that is not good for us in Japan. The US media is reporting a 4.1 earthquake but the data says otherwise: 06-JAN-2016 01:30:02 41.31 129.03 5.1 10 NORTH KOREA 5170265, 5.1 is much more than 4.1.

Abe is just making propaganda by spreading fear to justify further constitution changes. Next time he will probably try to justify that Japan should also have an atomic strike power.

I do note that this is why Japan has been stupid in pursuing political hostility with China. China is the key in keeping North Korea under control. Japan needs China and North Korea is definitely a bigger treat to Japan security than China.

@bjohnson23

Further analysis is needed than just earthquake intensity data. One may trigger an earthquake which releases itself energy with smaller energy than the one released from a H bomb or any nuclear bomb.

@bjohnson23

Further analysis is needed than just earthquake intensity data. One may trigger an earthquake which releases itself energy with smaller energy than the one released from a H bomb or any nuclear bomb.

I feel frightened for my family. North Korea is a rogue state with a H Bomb. Whether Pyongyang despot regimen, and mentally deranged divine leader has the means to deliver there grotesque weapons of mass destruction doesn't bear thinking about.

The global community must unite, especially North Korea closest ally President Xi Jinping Government of China to deliver Prime Minister Shinzo Abe call for strong action.

Japan may look exposed, vulnerable to unprovoked attack . Resorting to knee-jerk reaction, expect calls to abandon article 9, possible even develop next generation weapons system more destructive. Japan certainly has the technical capabilities to deliver these so called 'deterrents' must be resisted.

All I can say is that the Obama administration is once again in denial of threats and treating this as it was a small thing

Exactly! As Boy Wonder Marco Rubio so aptly chimed in today, "I have been warning throughout this campaign that North Korea is run by a lunatic who has been expanding his nuclear arsenal while President Obama stood idly by." Okay, thanks for the heads up on that lunatic thing - very perceptive! But what should Obama have been doing? I mean, China can't even control the actions of the Boy General (note: do not confuse the former with the latter) even though they have theNK economy by the nads.

Here, Rubio offers typically marvelous advice: "We need new leadership that will stand up to people like Kim Jong Un and ensure our country has the capabilities necessary to keep America safe." Read: Reckless leaders and more Pentagon money (and also tax cuts, 'cause).

Seriously, Obama ceased food aid in 2012, contributing greatly to a plunge in the World Food Program's aid to NK from 900,000 metric tons in 2001 to 46,000 in 2013, and he has spared no effort in identifying and shutting down all manner of methods Kim has used to circumvent the strict UN sanctions that Obama championed. What do you expect Obama to do otherwise, short of war? Really, do you have even a single suggestion?

http://www.wsj.com/articles/united-nations-food-aid-program-for-north-korea-lacks-donors-1409047712

Japan pacifist constitution cannot be arbitrarily discarded by any government.

All Prime Minsters/Governments can be voted out office if the electorate see fit. All posters have the democratic right, and freedom of political expression to criticize this ruling government.

I hope that today's developments, disturbing as they are empower the electorate to value the constitution, and vigorously debate this countries future whatever there political opinions. In doing so, recognizing the importance of casting there vote at 2016 House of Councillors elections.

Still something is weird, the first report on the depth was set to 10km below the surface, bring a bomb to that depth must be very technically challenging....

re: @daito_hakJan. 06, 2016 - 07:51PM JST Further analysis is needed than just earthquake intensity data. One may trigger an earthquake which releases itself energy with smaller energy than the one released from a H bomb or any nuclear bomb.

That may defense may hold some water, but doubtful as the NKoreans have proven to be true to their word so far regardless of what the US so called experts have told our leaders. The last few times that earthquakes have been triggered by the NK's has all proven factual as they have claimed and very unlike the data or rather denial by the Obama administration or US sympathizers. Are you an Obama sympathizer or part of the US experts? Seems they got it wrong once again.

hold on there Tex, let's wait until the people with lab coats on tell us what happened first. The blast wasn't even enough for a failure let alone a success. Don't go validating NK for political purposes mkay

A.N. OtherJan. 06, 2016 - 04:27PM JST "Abe told reporters: “We absolutely cannot allow this, and condemn it strongly.” The fact is, Abe-san, there is mistress sweet Fanny Adams you can you can do about it unless you are prepared to have >Japan invade Korea (again).

Japan didn't "invade" Korea.

Just a couple comments;

It is highly unlikely that this was a Hydrogen fusion explosion – that would have triggered a much larger seismic event than that recorded here. This could have been a low yield atomic explosion or large quantities of conventional ones. The US, Japan, China, Russia and European counties have “sniffer” aircraft that can identify tell-tale radiation and confirm what actually occurred.

While nK media said the target of this test was the US, its message was really aimed at China – Chinese nK relations have been on a downward spiral for some time – and China has sent both explicit and subtle messages to nK to not conduct another nuclear test. This is clearly a provocation aimed at China and one that will cause great angst in Beijing as it will be viewed as a significant loss of face.

This clearly fits nK’s previous provocation cycles, though this time the regime likely miscalculated and the US may again declare it as a terrorism sponsoring state which freezes the regimes ability to transact money.

Kim Jong Un lacks his father and grandfather’s finesse in conducting these provocations, and the risk of miscalculation on nK’s part is far greater than in the past. China’s patience with the regime may also be reaching a breaking point – and they may conclude installing someone more amendable to China’s desires may be the more preferable option.

Increased tension on the Korean peninsula, broader instability in the Middle East, China expanding militarily in the South China sea while contracting economically, an increasingly bellicose Russia, and a US Presidential election.....2016 should be interesting.

Abe told reporters: “We absolutely cannot allow this, and condemn it strongly.”

OF COURSE he and the japanese people cannot allow this and condemn. It would be most unfortunate for japan to get nuked for a third time. And all North Korea has to do is lob it over the Sea of Japan, not very far at all.

Wonder how them SEALDs schoolboys feel now.

Oh, common people! Do a bit of research! There was a 5+ magnitude earthquake in North Korea and their press stated it was a H-bomb test! Just because the local government and the media have bought into it doesn't mean you also have to be so gullible. There is no way North Korea could do a H-Bomb test! Wake up sheeple!

bjohnson23JAN. 06, 2016 - 06:48PM JST All I can say is that the Obama administration is once again in denial of threats and treating this as it was a small thing, perhaps but unlike the talk and hot air that comes out of Washington . . .

There isn't a single thing the world can do. Whether N. Korean kooks can miniaturize a nuclear warhead is meaningless. It's a given that they have conventionally armed SCUDs targeting Tokyo and other Japanese cities. This is why the U.S., in one instance I would support this, could never make a preemptive strike - we could never be sure that we'd destroy everything on the ground before something could be launched at S. Korean and Japanese targets.

The N. Korean regime will eventually collapse. The more money it wastes on the military, the sooner this happens. Sanctions do nothing but further immiserate N. Koreans not working directly for the government.

DisillusionedJAN. 07, 2016 - 12:11AM JST Oh, common people! Do a bit of research! There was a 5+ magnitude earthquake in North Korea and their press stated it was a H-bomb test! Just because the local government and the media have bought into it doesn't mean you also have to be so gullible. There is no way North Korea could do a H-Bomb test! Wake up sheeple!

The U.S. had a spy plane in the air just before the detonation to collect air data and photograph the site. It wasn't an earthquake, which registers differently from a nuclear detonation, which is much more localized. The dispute is whether it was "just" a nuclear device or a thermonuclear device. The yield on the latter should be many times larger and should have caused a great shock wave.

Do try to keep up.

Itsonlyrockandroll: "Japan pacifist constitution cannot be arbitrarily discarded by any government."

It depends on the independence and willingness of judicial (supreme court) to strike down any attempt to circumvent. North Korea has the most freedoms detailed in its constitution, but reality shows a much different place. We need to not have the justices appointed by the executive, but rather a jury-style selection for a set term (just make sure constitutional law is part of the school programme).

Abe told reporters: “We absolutely cannot allow this, and condemn it strongly.”

Err...but they just did.

Hi Jumin Rhee, my take on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the ruling LDP 'revision' allowing Japan military force to engaging in conflict overseas, goes something like this......

A) Thought the unprovoked attack of a close ally that threatens the people of Japan, lands, sovereignty of governments survival. B) That all diplomatic processes have failed to succeed in thwarting a conflict and the only means necessary to respell an enemy is to use lethal force. However any force must kept to a minimum.

However there's a paradox, a contradiction to Abe san statement that the revisions are needed to defend and deter as a means to prevent war. Japan existing peacekeeping role is sufficient to serve the purpose to prevent conflict, points Abe san skilfully side steps.

Taking into account the ever increasing queue of renowned and respected scholars stretching around the diet building , to name one Yasuaki Onuma, Professor at Meiji University's School of Law..... “It's the repentance and regret of having sacrificed the lives of many people in war that has ensured Japan’s pacifism and economic development. This feeling is what has been the foundation to Japan’s post war peace and prosperity."

Add to all of the above, Article 96, amendments to the Constitution need to pass a two-thirds majority in both upper and lower house, and then have to be ratified by a majority of the people in a referendum. No Prime Minster has ever been able to convince even 40% of the J electorate . However that is no reason to be complacent.

Look here. http://www.kokuminhogo.go.jp/en/about/system/evacuation.html

The law demands the Cabinet to make evacuation plans in case of a possible missile attack.

Abe administration has not yet prepared any such contingent evacuation plans. People will die in chaos without any plans.