North Korea closely watching Noda

oginome, so which Korea re you from oh north or south?

I'm not from either Korea, Yuri.

Do you like to go to the demonstrations against Japan.

Where did you get that idea from? Do you like to go to the Yasukuni Shrine, Yuri?

Keep talking, you are damaging relations in a can.

Not really, Japan does enough by whitewashing its past.

South Korea can not have it both ways.

South Korea doesn't have it both ways. Stop damaging relations Yuri.

I do not want want any of my family to die in a war against the north

I don't want any of your family to die in a war with the North either. But we know that probably won't happen. It's South Korean (and North of course) and American soldiers who will bear the brunt of casualties if war happens.

There is an opportunity for the north to get better relations with Japan.

This is an opportunity for Japan to ruin its relations with the South.

oginome, so which Korea re you from oh north or south? My guess is you are from the south. Do you like to go to the demonstrations against Japan. I have never been to one against South Korea, North Korea or America. Keep talking, you are damaging relations in a can. The south expects Japan to support them in their conflict with the north as they make hateful statements against Japan. South Korea can not have it both ways. I do not want want any of my family to die in a war against the north. There is an opportunity for the north to get better relations with Japan.

I am sure the south's government is behind these demonstrations.

And I'm sure Japanese government members were behind the visits... oh no wait, were actually visiting Yasukuni Shrine themselves OPENLY until very recently! Shameful and atrocious behaviour. If the South still has demonstrations, despite having good economic and MUCH better social and political ties with Japan, why are you so sure the North wouldn't keep anti-Japanese sentiment and hold demonstrations even if relations are normalized? North Korea can only survive by having enemies, as contradictory as that sounds.

The key is Japan is not a threat to the North.

But Japan is not a threat to North Korea now.

Right wing, no I do place Japan first but do not think wars etc will make Japan any more secure. That is the lesson of the last war. Wonders about our relations with South when after the 3 stooges try and visit there is more Japanese flag burning. I am sure the south's government is behind these demonstrations. I doubt Japan will get to normal anything soon but we can change roads. The key is Japan is not a threat to the North.

oginome, Japan is not the south's tool to beat up the north, Normal relations will not make it harder for the south to defend themselves.

Why said anything about Japan being South Korea's tool to beat up the North? If you think the same problems that exist for Japan in South Korea as a result of whitewashing the past aren't going to be also be a problem in North Korea, then you're sadly mistaken.

Normal relations is the goal it will take effort and time to achieve. Oh how is wishing normal relations "right wing"?

Why are you so desperate for normal relations with the North? Why not focus on making the current relationship with South Korea (and China) better? Because, believe me, those relationships are sorely lacking. Or is it that you want to make North Korea Japan's 'weapon' against those other two countries? And when I say 'right wing', I mean your posts in general.

Oh tell me how punishing the north is leading to sweeping change within their country? If anything punishing the north makes them even more desperate.

The North is a pariah state and deservedly so. Its human right abuses are the worse in the world, hundreds of thousands are in concentration camps. Millions died in a famine in the 90s and the elite hoarded the emergency food supplies that were sent in to the country to help (there's an example of why co-operation doesn't work}. Normalizing relations would just make Japan an enabler. It wouldn't work anyway, because North Korea doesn't honour agreements. Look at how South Korea's Sunshine Policy failed.

oginome, Japan is not the south's tool to beat up the north, Normal relations will not make it harder for the south to defend themselves. I really doubt the north could afford to buy much from Japan. The Abductions were sad but we must move forward. Normal relations is the goal it will take effort and time to achieve. Oh how is wishing normal relations "right wing"? Oh tell me how punishing the north is leading to sweeping change within their country? If anything punishing the north makes them even more desperate.

What happens within Korea is no concern to Japan. It is an internal conflict and Japan should become neutral by not favoring either side.

An internal conflict that Japan is partially responsible for.

So the South will get mad, ah big deal. Have seen the anti Japanese demonstrations and know they are sanctified by the government of south.

Lol, you're acting like the South hates Japan for no reason. The reasons why the anti Japanese demonstrations occur? I'll give you a few keywords, war, colonization, revisionism, school textbooks, Yasukuni. Go look it up. Certain parties benefit from Japan's willful ignorance and lack of remorse by fanning the flames of Japan hatred in their countries, but that's Japan's fault for not being open and honest about what it did.

What has the North done to hurt Japan?

Abducting innocent Japanese, including a child, killing them, launching a rocket over Japan. What has South Korea ever done to Japan? And yet, you're willing to destroy the ties that both countries have worked so hard to build over the years to normalize relations with a despotic regime, a large scale concentration camp?

Sorry Japan has to do what is in our bests interests and not South Korea

Japan is the world's third largest economy and a democracy. It has a responsiblity in world affairs, neutral or no. How on Earth is it sane to normalize relations with North Korea?

You have twisted the truth Yuri. Your views are extremely right wing.

@oginomeSep. 04, 2011 - 10:11AM JST

Normalizing relations with North Korea would deeply compromise your relationship with the South.

Relationship between Japan and SK isn't best. But exists some reasons for normalize relations Japan with NK: 1. in NK low cost human resources - it can be interesting for Japanese companies, 2. independence Japanese politics in Asian region from China and USA, 3. improve Japanese reputation in Asian region, 4. NK need energy, Russia and NK will be transport electricity and gaz through NK to SK, but Japan can create factory in NK for produce 'ecology safe' solar battery, 5. Japanese normalize relationship with NK can get for Japan strong partner NK with a-bomb that is good for more stronger position Japan in Asia region, 6. normalize relationship between Japan and SK can get more stability to Asia region.

What happens within Korea is no concern to Japan. It is an internal conflict and Japan should become neutral by not favoring either side. So the South will get mad, ah big deal. Have seen the anti Japanese demonstrations and know they are sanctified by the government of south. What has the North done to hurt Japan? We are not the south's tool to hurt the north, get use to it. Japan not being a foe will leave the north with two enemies. Perhaps they might be under less pressure to be aggressive. Sorry Japan has to do what is in our bests interests and not South Korea. Normalizing relations with the north is a neutral act, supporting the south in their civil war with their war with the north is a hostile act. You have twisted the truth.

I'm sorry Yuri, but you say Japan should be neutral in the affairs of other countries and then claim it should normalize relations with North Korea! Normalizing relations with that country is NOT a neutral act. Relations between North and South Korea are terrible, get caught listening to a KPOP song in Pynongyang and you could be sent to a labour camp in Chongjin. The countries are at a stalemate, look at what happened last year, and the possibility of full-out war is still higher than what would be considered comfortable. Normalizing relations with North Korea would deeply compromise your relationship with the South. How can you not see that?

@YuriOtaniSep. 04, 2011 - 06:01AM JST

oginome, what a distorted view, the Korea civil war is directly the fault of the Americans and Russians split Korea into north and south.

No, Japan was split Korea, because south is plain, but north is mountain. Japan can't of North because is very complex military task. But after Japan USA and Russia got result divider Korea. South stay as slave of USA and North as freedom. Kim Ir Sen as korean patriot had need unit North and South. Russia was supply recourses to NK, and Kit start military unite. But Japan was sell some products to USA Army and improve own economic situation.

oginome, what a distorted view, the Korea civil war is directly the fault of the Americans and Russians split Korea into north and south.

Without Japan's 40 year occupation, there would have been no power vaccum in the first place which resulted in the Americans and Russians dividing the country in two. Japan is in no position to act so lofty and above it all regarding the North/South Korean issue. Your view is the one that's distorted.

oginome, what a distorted view, the Korea civil war is directly the fault of the Americans and Russians split Korea into north and south. The actual war is directly the fault of China and Russia but having their man start it. Going back to North Korea, it is not the job of Japan to protect the south. Better relations with the north will reap nothing but benefits. Not sure which one hates Japan more north or south? The big question is will America risk its own cities by retaliating against China or Russia? Well it is off topic, my point is the north is not a threat against Japan. Good relations will prove a benefit to both countries.

I hope that Japan would good relationship with NK. That is not easy, but is problem of economy and security for Japan. Because USA and China get to Japan really economics and security problems.

@oginomeSep. 03, 2011 - 11:04PM JST

They like playing cat and mouse, blowing hot and cold, confusing and bewildering their neighbours, so they're always on edge. Are you wrote about NK or USA. That is USA style.

I recommend everyone to read 'Nothing To Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea' by Barbara Demick, to hear about what life is really like in this nightmare by people who've fled and are now living in the South.

NK is country without drags and vodka also with hi level of culture and moral.

@JT

The communist North has repeatedly expressed a desire to go back to talks,

That information is not correct. Constitution of NK now isn't contain "communist" word.

Yuri, you do know Japan hatred is second only to American hatred in North Korea? Your country is reviled there as an imperialist aggressor. If North Korea's weapons are so primitve, why do you think it's important to normalize relations? The Korean civil war is indirectly the fault of Japan by the way. The power vaccum that was created when Japan lost its precious colony is what led to the divide in the first place.

@Yuri

Do I hear atomic weapons? Well China and Russia both have them targeted at Japan

How did you gain access to the nuclear weapon strategies of both the Chinese and Russian governments? You've got to be the first Okinawan in history to have managed that....

Japan should normalize relations with North Korea. Stop embargoes and have free trade. While the abductions were a bad thing, the Chinese and Russians have done worse. Japan needs to stay out of the Korean civil war. What have they done that is so much worse than the others? Do I her atomic weapons? Well China and Russia both have them targeted at Japan. We do business with them and yes I hear "rouge" state. It forces the north to be even closer to China. All our efforts do is to make their alliance even stronger. It is time we go from a proven losing policy to a winning one.

North Korea doesn't want to engage in dialogue with any country. They like playing cat and mouse, blowing hot and cold, confusing and bewildering their neighbours, so they're always on edge. If North Korea was sincere about 'engaging' in dialogue, then their malignant regime would collapse in no time. I recommend everyone to read 'Nothing To Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea' by Barbara Demick, to hear about what life is really like in this nightmare by people who've fled and are now living in the South.

Oginome. I agree with you wholeheartedly. What I was trying to say is that at the very minimal it is taking a "wait and see" attitude instead of beating the drums like China has chosen to do. It is rare for the North to do such a thing. They usually just charge in and start on the attack. Yes, the country is a brutal regime but they are entitled to their opinion and have not expressed it in the negative which means that their is hope for dialogue between the two countries. That is what is important above all things.

How about this? When NK decides to basically stop breaking international law w/ respect to, ....well, basically everything, then it might see a friendly face. Until then, they can sweat in the summer, freeze in the winter, and dig for scraps all year round.

True Ogi

China was and still is in many ways oginome

For North Koreans fleeing their hell hole, rural China is seen as a land of PLENTY. Rural China, still so poor and third world, is a land of prosperity for these refugees.

China was and still is in many ways oginome

North Korea isn't entitled to have an attitude about anything imap. The country is a concentration camp, the populace, brutalisted, starved, brainwashed. China at its worst was never as bad as NK.

I like North Korea's attitude much better than China's. At least they are taking a "wait and see" attitude which is pretty mature for that government.

Who cares?

LMAO at this whole 'we'll keep an eye on Japan'. Sorry, North Korea, but no. Just no.