Aso refers to shooting armed N Korean refugees in crisis

SK should be taking in all NK refugees since they are supposedly "brothers". Any NK refugees to Japan should be detained and considered hostile

Mouths that reek of evil.

Since when have refugees been armed? Only in this fool's addled brain.

This clown is well past the LDP's retirement age and should be kicked out at the upcoming election. Of course, he won't be as useless idiots like him form the bulk of the LDP parliamentary party.

A quintessential Asol comment.

Dcog: "SK should be taking in all NK refugees since they are supposedly "brothers""

not when Japan and the US are the main instigators besides NK itself. SK is trying to help the people of NK with aid, not talking about shooting civilians as though it were already going to happen. Aso seems pretty pleased with himself on this. Would be really nice to see him in the front lines if he and his ilk want war so badly.

If he was charged with the task, he'd blow his own feet off.

Stupider than a bog brush.

Look out that half starved confused traumatised family might be a threat, shoot them all.

we now have a precedent. KILL THEM ALL.

Aso is like an old golden retriever that needs to be taken out in the woods for a walk

Since when have refugees been armed?

Somalia!!

If civilians arrive illegally in another country armed, then they need to hand over their weapons. Of not they need to be arrested. If they fire upon civilians, police, whoever then they can hardly be treated as "refugees" and need to be treated as such. A stupid question by the stupid media that extracts a stupid response. The question should be put to Japanese Immigration, or the NPA, not the Finance Minister.

I would very much hope that the people of Japan would understand - unlike, seemingly, this utter twat - that the people of North Korea are NOT our enemies and that our beef is with a despotic regime and not with that regime's victims.

He's just being asked what will happen if it happens, he's not saying they will be actually shot.  "Will the Self Defense Forces shoot them down?" is different from saying "The Self Defense Forces will shoot them down.

Wow... So I guess vetting is out? Shoot to kill on sight? What an embarrassment!!!

Badge213: ""Will the Self Defense Forces shoot them down?" is different from saying "The Self Defense Forces will shoot them down."

Not really, when the topic hasn't even been brought up. It was a speech, not an interview. You'd think a nation so concerned about NK's missiles and what not would be intent on trying to work towards better relations with them, not already talking about the massive refugee crisis the world will face if we're not all dragged into the war with Japan and the US champing at the bit.

Isn't it odd; how the right frequently cite the left as being violent?

And yet; besides right wing commentators advocating catastrophic conflict in our region, it seems now that the inevitable consequences of such a war must be violently dealt with as well.

Fleeing your country/area because of war/famine/breakdown of society?

This is the new way of dealing with refugees - execution.

The world is mad. Mad, I tells ya.

He might be the finance minister (fu,fu) at the moment but he was the PM too (fu,fu,fu) and is the biggest by far monetory contributors to the LDP so he holds a lot of sway. He should be retired but who would listen to his babble then?

He should be retired but who would listen to his babble then?

Unfortunately; I guarantee you there will be those out there who think; yeah, this is a great idea.

Japan needs. to welcome refugees if any. Decreasing of population is severe in Japan. LDP plans to strength economy. First, arrest Aso. He has been. sabotaging Abenomics.

Another crazy old rich man.

Where does Aso get the idea that DPRK refugees are going to be armed?

SK should be taking in all NK refugees since they are supposedly "brothers". Any NK refugees to Japan should be detained and considered hostile

I wonder have South Korea could afford it. Obviously any reunification would cost billions and I've yet to see any serious attempt made by the U.S or its allies to canvas opinion on donating to that cause. Perhaps it hasn't been done in an attempt to not upset North Korea or China, but it's something that has to be considered. South Korea should feel confident that they have a financial support if reunification is the eventual outcome, under South Korean control, obviously.

South Korea should feel confident that they have a financial support if reunification is the eventual outcome, under South Korean control, obviously.

A nice idea but realistically, I feel there will have to be accomodation of the North's er, traditions. Kind of like power sharing in Stormont. When it's not being closed down, of course.

Why would he assume there will be any North Korean refugees fleeing to Japan? In the event of North Korean collapse, the North Koreans will either flee to China or South Korea.

Another elderly clown barely in control of his own brain. How is this addled, pickled geriatric in charge of anything more complex than a comb?

Also, as someone whose family company used POWs as slave labour during WW2, he should shut up.

No need to inflame an already delicate situation with such talk and pretty irresponsible reporting to make this the day's headline...................

Someone shut this crooked clowns crooked mouth please.

@Designer

Whilst I realise that JT has to engage with its demographic (and realistically; what news organ doesn't try) I do wonder what effect this has on those with lesser reasoning skills. I'm reminded of the hysteria directed towards US citizens of Japanese heritage who were subjected to all manner of outrageous slurs and eventually interned in their own country.

There are people here of North Korean heritage who (besides already being labelled as criminal/dodgy/suspect sympathisers etc) who may be the target of further ire.

That said; Aso's comments are so wide off the mark and bizarre they simply must be reported on.

Sadly Aso only sence of self esteem comes from his hereditary place in government, and as he is well aware of, but denies his life long inability to actually achieve anything on his own. Thus his inability to retire and his hastening slide into dementure guaranteeing his 2nd shot as PM. Any refugees could be screened perhaps for their Body Mass Index. If you are above starvation might be part of the regime.

Shooting refugees, admiring Hitler. Aso is a real class act. This government is a joke and so is the populace for enabling fools and Hitler idolizers to remain in power for so long.

Just an interesting fact that Aso is the second richest Japanese politician after..... Abe who is No1. Politics really is a great "business"

Should we like execute every refugee instead of caring for them, just because they're fleeing from dictators and war?

Should we execute every syrian who enters Europe for instance? Women and children who are desperetaly fleeing from war! Think about for a second if you were in their situation, Taro Aso! For long, you've lost your sense of humanity Aso!

You might as well retire if this is what occupies your mind nowadays! Your supposed to handle Japan's economy, not comment about a possible refugee crisis! That job will the UN take care of in unity with Japan.

A stupid question by the stupid media that extracts a stupid response. The question should be put to Japanese Immigration, or the NPA, not the Finance Minister.

Question??? I don't read anybody asking this old fool a question, I see an old fool, ""shooting"" his foul month off once again, this guy should have been put out to pasture ages ago, enough already!

Armed refugees? If they're really armed, then they're not really refugees are they? But that's what this is all about. It's to instill in people's minds that your average North Korean, or any Korean for that matter, is dangerous. The irony.

Armed refugees? If they're really armed, then they're not really refugees are they? But that's what this is all about. It's to instill in people's minds that your average North Korean, or any Korean for that matter, is dangerous. The irony.

Indeed. The narrative has to be molded and shaped until it is swallowed and later regurgitated as fact, if and when needed.

Much like the Iraq WMDs.

Who would've guessed that a totalitarian regimen would allow civilians to carrry guns around and even leave the country with them.

An old person of wisdom never say that. Unfortunately, he is too old to recognize what he is saying, no remedy to a - well-known "boss" - coming to the epilogue phase.

As someone once told me in Japan, they would, "Round them up in boats, and ship them off to South Korea."

Japan absolved most of its responsibilities to Korea via Western military WWII political intervention.

What concerns me is the the faction of North Koreans that live in Japan. If push comes to shove between USA and N.Korea, will there be N.Korean sleeper cells activated within Japan's borders?

If LDP really want to. promote economic growth f Japan and gun control, suggest Also family to put him in a neurological hospital. It is dangerous when a wealthy man love guns.

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, 

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: 

I lift my Howa Type 89 beside the bloody Torii.”

FatMan & LittleBoy was not enough. Now begging 4 FatBoy?

Shoot them down! What kind of an idiot would say such a thing. This guy should step down and resign or be thrown out!

Mr. As$o has helped me to understand the Japanese mindset.

Indeed, all 126 million Japanese think exactly like "Mr. As$o" just as all 323 million Americans think exactly like Donald Trump.

This man Aso is about 30 years out of date.

JT,

Aso refers to shooting armed N Korean refugees in crisis

Did Ask mention the word "armed"?

or are you giving him more credit than he's due?

From Wikipedia: "In mid-2008 Asō conceded that his family's coal mine, Aso Mining Company, was alleged to have forced Allied prisoners of war to work in the mines in 1945 without pay. Western media reported that 300 prisoners, including 197 Australians, 101 British, and two Dutch, worked in the mine. Two of the Australians, John Watson and Leslie Edgar George Wilkie, died while working in the Aso mine. In addition, 10,000 Korean conscripts worked in the mine between 1939 and 1945 under severe, brutal conditions in which many of them died or were injured while receiving little pay. The company, now known as the Aso Group, is run by Asō's younger brother."

Wasn't he PM for like a week?

What concerns me is the the faction of North Koreans that live in Japan. If push comes to shove between USA and N.Korea, will there be N.Korean sleeper cells activated within Japan's borders?

I think they are really the target all along. The hateful warhawks' job now is to make people not differentiate them with "armed refugees from the sea".

This fits in nicely with his previous Nazi loving comments.

@ossam Spot on.

Will the Self-Defense Forces be dispatched and shoot them down? We'd better think about it seriously."

Since when the SDF is an armed militia sent for doing mass murder assassination in foreign countries ? He is really out of his mind!

Does this man seriously think a regime like NK's would allow its citizens to own firearms? If refugees did turn up with weapons it would be because they were either coerced into taking them or they are firm NK Nationalists who probably would use them. It also wouldn't surprise me if trained military personnel would be placed among genuine refugees in order to get them into the country.

aso is 52 cards short of a deck!! What an embarrassment for the ump=tenth time!!

Isn't it the matter of "armed" refugee?

The armed refugee may use their weapons to police, JSDF, and citizens. I think the government should consider how to adress this problem.

I actually doubt there would be ANY NK civvies taking up arms - the fanatics are in uniform...

Aso seems to be the type who has an Imperial Army officer uniform in the back of his closet... what a dangerous man he is. He must love Trump, as must his fellow party officials.