politics

U.S. reassures Japan, S Korea after fresh N Korea threats

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"Japan has to limit relationship with US Government, full of lies."

The US won't and can't back down from their commitment to Japan and South Korea. Not going to happen.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Thanks for your assurance, we know US is serious and sincere whereas NK threats are not :)

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Kyle Alpert: I think you have it backwards. Do you really think that China will go all in for the sake of North Korea? Is North Korea worth enough to China to go to war with South Korea, Japan and the U.S.?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

smithinjapanMar. 09, 2013 - 12:24AM JST

So what does that make Japan, who hides behind the US and can do nothing but? -- and don't kid yourself into >thinking they could stand on their own. It makes them less than the US.

According to smith is any country that has a security agreement with the U.S. is "hiding behind the U.S". That would include South Korea, Canada, EU, Australia, UK, etc etc.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The sweet smell of a thermonuclear war is in the air. But maybe NK is just bluffing. It's doubtful that they have any functional nuclear stockpile.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Let us all hope it does not come to war. Nothing is gained from war except death of innocent people.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

RenzieMar. 08, 2013 - 09:22AM JST

Japan has to limit relationship with US Government, full of lies.

I assure you US is serious. Your speculation like this without base does not help anyone on JT. If you still believe what you have said listed above, please present the proof to back up your statement. Thanks. That's how wars start.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Kyle: "US can and will backdown, for the sake of Chinese goodwill mostly but also due to military realities. "

So what does that make Japan, who hides behind the US and can do nothing but? -- and don't kid yourself into thinking they could stand on their own. It makes them less than the US.

Japan is finally realizing the result of it's bombast and hiding, and South Korea that it's own strength combined with the US still does nothing when it comes to Geography. If anything, and I know some of you will see this as a given, I feel sorry for South Korea -- while they're actually in the best position to fight against NK (conventionally, any way), Japan and the US are pushing for sanctions the strongest and demanding the UN do so.

There's nothing that can be done here but back down here by all sides. There is no other option but full out war. While North Korea really has a bad deck, they currently hold all the cards.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

North Korea need to get over itself.

Its a tiny country, in area, in population, in economic power, in influence, and basically nobody gives a crap about them.

They are not going to get invaded because nobody wants them...

They're stuck living in a backwards, poor piece of mountainous back country and they have nothing anybody would want.

We all remember the headaches and expense that the reunification of Germany brought after the Fall of the Berlin Wall. It held Europe back for almost a decade.

If it wasn't for the North Korean leadership's inane, insane, belligerent bellowing, they would never make the news anywhere.

They're like the Taliban, pathetic school yard bullies at a school nobody attends anymore.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The best way to handle North Korea is to forceably close all of their embassies and just declare them persona non grata.

Evict any North Korean presence from the borders and the affairs of any and every state.

They desperately want to be taken seriously, but they cant.

Let them lose their seat at the United Nations. Cut the cables and their revenues.

They NO LONGER EXIST.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's the worse crisis since the end of Korean war.

You better take a look at your history books again. The Korean War never ended. They are currently in a "cease-fire".

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Wakarimasen, I hope you are right although, N.Korea certainly does not act in a rational manner.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

What is a "rouge state"? Red?

Maybe you mean rogue state?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

CGB Spender, that is a big assumption given that they have detonated three test bombs and there are suggestions they have enough material for 12 bombs. There are also reports that NK has fielded some low yield bombs on their smaller missiles that can reach S. Korea and Japan.

NK doesn't have the ability YET to put a bomb on a missile that would reach, say California. They still could put a bomb on S. Korea, Japan, or a U.S. military installation in Japan or even Guam. Still, it would be one of the last things NK did.

paulinusa has it right, China doesn't want any conflict in Korea because when NK loses (and it will), a democratic government will be on one of its borders.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Is North Korea worth enough to China to go to war with South Korea, Japan and the U.S.?

Probably not. And is South Korea worth enough for the U.S. to go... Which means that if Kim attacks " a little" South Korea, nobody will move and SK will deal it on its own. So there could be a low intensity conflict between the 2 Koreas. Like they'd bomb a boat or too, that kind of things. And then ? That doesn't look good.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They may not have to tech to put it on a missle or warhead but there is nothing preventing them from parking one at the border and setting it off, blast waves travel and the fall out would take out the rest. He's not concerned with the welfare of his people so don't put it past him to reduce even his own to ash.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Prudence requires taking threats seriously. Japan and South Korea are strong US allies and public reassurances of that fact will help more than hurt. Let us hope NK don't chose to continue hostilities yet don't forget they are still technically at war with the South Korea.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kyle AlpertMar. 08, 2013 - 09:56AM JST

US can and will backdown, for the sake of Chinese goodwill mostly but also due to military realities. US can and will do nothing to prevent a rouge state from doing something crazy, as reflected by Israel's shrill insistence on preemptively attacking Iran. If Israel, who 'knows' the US better than most, has no confidence, why should Japan?

YES WE CAN!!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Noth Korea is not Iran. It is unpredictable.Basically North korrea wants ecurity from China's nukes and west and Japan are unable to understand this.It is China which is the real enemy of North korea

0 ( +0 / -0 )

On the bright side, if this results in war, the U.S.'s biggest military base in Asia will be in NK, not Japan. I don't think China will let it get to that point.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Probably not. And is South Korea worth enough for the U.S. to go... Which means that if Kim attacks " a little" South Korea, nobody will move and SK will deal it on its own. So there could be a low intensity conflict between the 2 Koreas. Like they'd bomb a boat or too, that kind of things. And then ? That doesn't look good."

@Cos:

To answer your question, yes. Not only is South Korea important enough for the U.S. to go to war over, but you also have to couple in the fact that U.S. troops and materiel would also be casualties in a strike by North Korea. I hardly think the U.S. would just sit back and watch.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I agree that the best way to describe NK is "unpredictable". Unprincipled springs to mind as well but it's the unpredictable part that gives one pause. Having made all these threats will the Un have to now take some kind of action to avoid losing face? NK seems to have painted themselves into a corner on this one. I am not sure what is going to happen next but I worry it's not going to be pleasant.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Good to have friends...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Renzie at Mar. 08, 2013 - 09:22AM JST Japan has to limit relationship with US Government, full of lies.

Would you prefer the Okinawans protecting that part of the world? I'd rather have my tax dollars used in the USA then protecting Asia.

Full of lies or not, show some appreation!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cortes ElijahMAR. 08, 2013 - 08:30PM JST Let us all hope it does not come to war. Nothing is gained from war except death of innocent people.

I agree!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I think the comment that makes the most sense here is from CrazedInJapan....I'll go along with THAT one !

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

When dealing with today's U.S.A. - follow the dollar! Huge debt to pay down, much invested in military and armaments, either way the U.S. has little to lose by war. Japan is no longer a strategic site in this Space Age, and similarly many other American "Bases" can be abandoned once adequate satellite and military Space Station coverage is established? Expect China to dominate, expect U.S. to fade some as the Pan Eurasian Alliances gain in stature. Canada has already reached out to China for market share as even American "Branch Plants" here in Ontario are closed, contracts, sub contracts lost, and whole industries returned either to the U.S.A. or to China. Canada may even be forced by this situation to buy fighter jets from China or Russia. America's stock Market is very high but its producing people worse off than ever, and a sudden drop in productivity there could cause crashes? Global Village is not American ruled?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Put that in top story. It's the worse crisis since the end of Korean war.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

If any "war" is about to take place, it's going to be in the Korean peninsula much like the Korean war. Without the U.S. presence, it's virtually a cake walk for NK.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

N Korea is not a rouge state. And I think the chances of L'il Kim ordering any kind of serious attack on the South is zero.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

US can and will backdown, for the sake of Chinese goodwill mostly but also due to military realities. US can and will do nothing to prevent a rouge state from doing something crazy, as reflected by Israel's shrill insistence on preemptively attacking Iran. If Israel, who 'knows' the US better than most, has no confidence, why should Japan?

-14 ( +0 / -14 )

Japan has to limit relationship with US Government, full of lies.

-17 ( +5 / -20 )

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