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N Korea vows to exclude Japan from nuclear talks

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Time for Japan to start calling in some favors among the other parties to the talks. Maybe Japan should try a bit of real politik against all parties. What about Japan dropping a few not-so-subtle hints regarding its contributions to bailing out the world financial system? That would turn heads. The biggest fundamental failure of the Bush Presidency was that he failed to take out North Korea rather than Iraq.

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Right decision by NK, hope other 4-members of 6 party talks will be appreciating the same.

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Only time will tell who has been arrogant,either Japan during WWII or Korea for kidnapping 9 japanese.North is already in bad shape(not enough food to feed everyone) due to the international ban...Does japan play more aggressive role again,like it did during WWII?It should start appreciating even small steps taken by North.It will be only a disappointment if japan wished 100% solution rightaway...ONE STEP AT A TIME...Come on,japan. You know what you did in WWII?

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ai_sumo: Japan and other nations should stop all aid to North Korea to hasten the downfall of the cruel regime. Aid goes straight to the military and senior party members, perpetuating the repression of the people and propping up the evil maniacs at the top.

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MichaelJP:Well,Corruption and Communism...they do have a close bond! :-) But as we are from democratic countries,we have to be patient in educating them on how democracy tastes like!I'd say it is not a huge step from North but something is in progress,should be appreciated.Aggresiveness and making children starve to death will not yield result(only the agony grows b/w countries).After all,innocent Citizens should not be punished for their leaders' fault.that'ts my point. :-) Cheers!

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Just make sure that no economic/food/fuel support is given by Japan to NK. Let them keep starving.

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Right decision by NK, hope other 4-members of 6 party talks will be appreciating the same.

Hahaha, yeah right!

North Korea will be the one that finds itself without support for its childish position. It made a host of promises that it has backed out of, and it reflects well on Japan that it is insists Pyongyang keep to its commitments whilst other members keep moving the goalposts to suit NK.

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Come on,japan. You know what you did in WWII?

So that justifies evil regimes of the world doing what they like to Japanese citizens? When will this "international right" expire? In another 20 years? 25? 50? Because I can't think of many countries in the world that haven't "done wrong". If we start abusing people because of past injustices we'd be at war all the time.

Japan has been patient. Giving North Korea rewards for bad behaviour is exactly what got the region into this mess. If Japan doesn't get what it has been promised it has a right not to provide aid.

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Backfire!

I have been saying it for two years now; if Japan doesn't shut up about this bilateral issue in an international forum, NK will threaten them with expulsion or derailing the talks. Now, it seems, Japan has two choices: 1) be stubborn and get excluded from the talks, failing as well, of course, to make any progress on the abduction issue and to appear as weak as they truly are, or, (2) suck it up, apologize, and ask to be part of the talk on denuclearization, without bringing up the abduction issue and by bringing some aid.

That's it. It's truly sad that NK has the upper hand in all this, and a fall-back (nuclear weapons) if everyone else pulls out, but in a way it's about time Japan got a bit back of what it handed to the Koreas originally ever so long ago, as well as being shown for the powerless country it really is in the game of politics. So many of Japan's PMs lately have been either heralded or made the villain by right wing fanatics who wish to change Japan's war-time history and pretend the abduction issue is the most important thing in the world, well now Aso looks like... well... a word very similar to his name.

Like it or not, the only way to resolve things with Pyong-Yang is through dialogue and 'rewards' for the baby-steps they seem at least open to talk about taking. Clearly the bombast and threats aren't working.

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"Japan has been patient. Giving North Korea rewards for bad behaviour is exactly what got the region into this mess. If Japan doesn't get what it has been promised it has a right not to provide aid."

Actually, what got the region into this mess was colonization by Japan, and the tearing up of Korea as well as many other countries into communist North and 'democratic' South by the USSR and USA. While that should not be the focus of discussions and cannot be changed, it also should not be forgotten, same as the issue of abduction. These are issues that need to be talked about between the nations involved in each issue, not in an international forum when it's clearly a bilateral issue.

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I don't know how SK people feel when people of your poor mad brother are under starving? hopeless!

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So it is give us aid or else. Thats what these useless never-ending talks are for... giving them aid. When will the world wake up! NK will never disarm!!! It just want aid to prop up their terrible regime. And give all the negotiators well-paid jobs. Cut it all I say. Heres what I think the response should be to all NK type governements - if ever use any weapons against us, we will use ours. End of discussion.

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ai_sumo: Japan and other nations should stop all aid to North Korea to hasten the downfall of the cruel regime

That has worked great in the case of the US embargo on Cuba. What a dopey suggestion. That policy only kills more innocent korean kids, it does not change the government.

As Smith says above, NK is putting Japan in its place for its stupid pursuit of the tired and irrevelant hostage issue from the 1970s. Abe used that to get elected PM and now its a rope around Japan's neck. How weak Japan must be if NK can blow it off.

Aso-san does not have the guts not the smarts to do the right thing here and back off. Japan will get passed over again and the second largest economy will be treated like a chump 3rd world loser country.

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I know a whole lot of SKoreans, and their view of their Northern neighbours tends to vascillate between pity over the situation as a whole, but also a lot of anger towards the NK government , particularly if they've lost loved ones in incidents with NK (or in the war). As the latter tend to be older for the most part, the younger seem to be quite eager to make amends with the country (not the government).

I can say one more thing, two, if ever there is one thing that unites both countries beyond most others its their hatred of the Japanese government, and of the Japanese 'historians' who pretend and say that nothing bad happened during colonization. I don't think there's a single South Korean (not living in Japan, at least) who is disappointed by this news.

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Uncle Kim: I'm so lonely, so lonely...poor little me.

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"N Korea"

Hopefully, not for too much longer.

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geronimo: "Heres what I think the response should be to all NK type governements - if ever use any weapons against us, we will use ours. End of discussion."

Fortunately, you're not in charge, because you know who loses with your mentality? YOU! No, the North Korean government doesn't lose thing; they know that any launch of missiles guarantees the country's obliteration, but as a last resort I've no doubt that they would do it as a face-saving measure if backed into a corner. Yes, of course millions and millions would die: Japan would be wiped off the face of the earth as a guaranteed first strike along with SKorea, and any missiles they could launch at the continental US and US interests will be gone, too. They lose their government, the world loses so much more because, you see, they have nothing to lose if they relinquish power.

Nope, you've got to unfortunately sit down at the table with these lads, like it or not.

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I'm really sick of this, North Korea, grow the heck up and Japan is threatening the entire world over 12 people.

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<<<I'm really sick of this, North Korea, grow the heck up and Japan is threatening the entire world over 12 people>>>

don't worry,even if they had come back older,you can always find them in the 'pension row'. :-)

did you see a 'homeless' japanese at Mexican airport 'temrinal'? LOL.

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"Other countries beside the six parties have expressed willingness to give economic aid to North Korea.."

Sick parties, if they continue to bail out this sick nasty little man who makes bombs while the country starves.

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I'm sure that Japan doensn't like being treated the same way Japan treats the rest of the world.

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I'm sure that Japan doensn't like being treated the same way Japan treats the rest of the world.

Why should they? they are perfect in thought, act and intent...........

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This is great, I love how Japan is blamed for everything that is wrong in North Korea, as if Kim is a Japanese agent inflicting horrors upon the people at the behest of his Japanese masters. Face it, the only people who can fix problems in North Korea are those in power in North Korea.

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Uncle Kim: Hey, Taro, how's it going? By the way you can stay home. I don't want you here.

Aso: Nantonaku, I didn't plan to come.

Uncle Kim: Oh sure you did, don't try to play me fool. You don't play a player.

Aso: I'm not playing nobody fool. Nantonaku! I just hate all the haters.

Uncle Kim: Well if you feel froggy jump!

Aso: Don't make get medieval.

W: Hey you two knock it off!

Uncle Kim and Aso: Yes daddy.

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smithinjapan ..." Nope, you've got to unfortunately sit down at the table with these lads, like it or not."

Well I think thats why they make weapons. There is a lot less incentive to make weapons if they cant use them in bargaining. And I think the more you negotiate with NK the more nukes they will make (see past 10 years neg history) making the world less safe.

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These talks should take about 5 minutes.

"Give up the nukes and agree to whatever we demand or we can wipe your worthless butts of the face of the earth in 20 minutes or less. Got a problem with that? I didn't think so."

Kim Jong Il is a mass murderer who should be treated as such.

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surprisingly there is no official comment from Aso admn yet.

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I'm really sick of this, North Korea, grow the heck up and Japan is threatening the entire world over 12 people.

100% agree. Besides, Japan should first clean up their background with abductions of mixed couples children to Japan.

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North korea says japan is not good for them to progress in talks. North korea and japan must pray for peace and friendship via buddha temple.

Compassion blessings prayers for each other is the way forward via Buddha. Buddha's blessing will increase for all in far east,if peace progress increase and ice melt between North korea/Japan.

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Japan has a right to be mad about the kidnapings But then agaian Korea has the issue of ww2. North korea is acting like Jp dont want to supply aid then your Not welcome to talks, there enough aid to go around from the USA China & southKorea & Russia. North korea is just useing this as a another stalling tool, to waste time. they could get rid of their weapons for the exchange of food aid. But they Keep procrastinating the issue. have for years

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Here's the answer: Outlaw Chongryon and/or put pressure on them!

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This article and all this thread is now meaningless cause the NKOreans have, as usual refused to put their promises into writing. What a truly trust worthy bunch. This whole 6-party talks is a waste of time and we should put pressure on China to reign their mad dog's leash. Oh and those who go on and on defending NKorea are really something else.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/10/AR2008121003855.html?hpid=moreheadlines

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