Obama to meet Abe, Park at White House on Thursday

They better do their best to avoid bringing up the issue of history and Japan's lack of contrition, or there will be zero progress on NK and it'll turn into Obama watching kids fighting in the sandbox. While they're at it, they need to be careful when addressing China's expansion as well, as any mention of the issue of disputed islands could also set off a firestorm (in a tea cup).

I think Obama will say "would you guys just stop fighting with each other and let bygones be bygones" - like little boys in a sandbox, smithinjapan!

I'm sure Obama will try his best to reassure trump will not be elected.

The US, Japan and South Korea are on the se page as far as China's activities in the South China Sea are concerned. Have been for a while now. Well the entre world is. http://www.wsj.com/articles/south-korea-calls-for-south-china-sea-rights-1446461006

Whatsnext: "I'm sure Obama will try his best to reassure trump will not be elected."

Only seems to be Japan that is worried about that -- aside from the GOP falling apart at the seems, of course. The rest of the world is loving the free entertainment.

OssanAmerica: "The US, Japan and South Korea are on the se page as far as China's activities in the South China Sea are concerned. Have been for a while now. Well the entre world is. "

Doesn't mean bringing up island issues is free of risk. If Japan tries to use it as a chance to ask SK to go to the ICJ, for example, when Japan is clearly unwilling to do so with the Senkakus, and both consider the respective disputes to be non-issues, it'll be messy for Japan.

DeDe Miura: "I think Obama will say "would you guys just stop fighting with each other and let bygones be bygones" - like little boys in a sandbox, smithinjapan!"

Yes, well, if only it were that simple. Hence, my comment that it best be avoided altogether if they seriously wish to make progress on the more pressing issue of NK.

Only seems to be Japan that is worried about that -- aside from the GOP falling apart at the seems, of course. The rest of the world is loving the free entertainment.

The Canadians on my Facebook seem to be worried more than loving the free entertainment. Can't say I blame them - living next door to a country run by a moron would be horrible.

I agree with WhatsNext. Until Nov, Obama has to assure any foreign dignitary, he has to assure Trump will not be electeq.

I agree with WhatsNext. Until Nov, Obama has to assure any foreign dignitary, he has to assure Trump will not be electeq

That's not his job and any attempt at reassuring anyone about who will not be elected in November would come across as being insincere. Sitting American Presidents in their final term have no say as to who will or will not be elected in the next election. Unlike Russia, the current American President can't hand-pick the next American President.

Obama can invite any media and their cameramen to show how Trump and Cruz campaign. He does not have to say.

U.S. policymakers have pushed Beijing to put pressure on Pyongyang to stop its nuclear provocations

Why can't the US just unilaterally wipe out North Korea like they did with Iraq? I mean, they are the most powerful country in the world, right? Righteous, let's not forget righteous as well. Iraq didn't even have WMDs nor were they responsible for 9/11, but that didn't stop the US from laying down earth's justice on them. So why tip toe around North Korea?

why tip toe around North Korea?

Because unlike Iraq, NK actually does have WMDs.

They should have destroyed NK years ago when they didn't have a card in their sleeves. Now if they want to wipe them out NK would sure nuke Seoul. That brings a question : if the US is that powerfull why aren't the able to destroy every singe places NK has missiles and/or anything that would do serious damages? It doesn't look like there will be a revolution soon and more they wait more of a threat they become.

Why can't the US just unilaterally wipe out North Korea like they did with Iraq? I mean, they are the most powerful country in the world, right? Righteous, let's not forget righteous as well. Iraq didn't even have WMDs nor were they responsible for 9/11, but that didn't stop the US from laying down earth's justice on them. So why tip toe around North Korea?

Because nobody (except for "Dubya" and Cheney) think the invasion of Iraq was "righteous". The rest of the country admits we sent Americans to Iraq to die for no reason.