Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Should allies like Japan, South Korea and the U.S. send condolences to North Korea over the death of Kim Jong-Il whose funeral will be held Wednesday?

Have Your Say Dec. 26, 2011 - 05:29AM JST ( 18 )

Order by Time Order by Popularity

18 Comments

-3

some14someDec. 26, 2011 - 07:27AM JST

They should not only send condolences but attend state funeral and pay tribute to Kim Jong-Il, if they think they live in a civilized world.
1

USNinJapan2Dec. 26, 2011 - 11:34AM JST

Absolutely not. No diplomatic ties = no attending state funerals and no phony messages of condolence. As for paying tribute to KJI, it would be impossible to say anything that wouldn't be a complete work of fiction. Like they say, if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all.

some14some: Pay tribute to KJI? I wasn't aware of anything positive that could be attributed to him? I'm assuming you know of one?
-4

JapanGalDec. 26, 2011 - 11:57AM JST

Kim was a hero.
-4

some14someDec. 26, 2011 - 12:57PM JST

some14some: Pay tribute to KJI? I wasn't aware of anything positive that could be attributed to him? I'm assuming you know of one?

He was the "President" and looking after his nation despite lot of hurdles from US (sanctions, listing NK as terror nation, freezing Macau money....) and it's neighbors ALSO natural calamities (flood, droughts...)
-1

FoxieDec. 26, 2011 - 04:30PM JST

It would be wiser to do it.
2

USNinJapan2Dec. 26, 2011 - 05:02PM JST

some14some Gimme a break. If KJI really wanted to "look after" his citizens he could/should have removed himself, having himself been the single critical obstacle to the country's development, and de-hermitized the DPRK overnight. He was looking after one person, himself.
2

NessieDec. 26, 2011 - 05:03PM JST

usnin

As for paying tribute to KJI, it would be impossible to say anything that wouldn't be a complete work of fiction.

For all our differences, we must praise his snappy fashion sense.
1

borschtDec. 26, 2011 - 07:08PM JST

I think if he was looking after his citizens, he wouldn't have let them starve to death or face death trying to escape to China. If he was looking after his citizens, he would have opened up the country to allow more business, more food, and less tension. But he wasn't; he was looking out for himself, his family, and his friends.

On topic, if a country has an embassy in NK, they should attend. If not, just a telegram to "the people" would suffice. And Japan can send a magician.
-2

some14someDec. 26, 2011 - 07:38PM JST

@borscht: ok, i got it. So let's believe that NK is looked after by God and God-like nation USA.
0

tkoind2Dec. 27, 2011 - 09:21AM JST

I am sorry but let's be honest. I doubt anyone, his son included, are sorry to see the old monster gone. So why fake it? N. Korea cannot be idiotic enough to believe that the world mourns Kim. Let's give even their leaders that much credit.
1

tkoind2Dec. 27, 2011 - 09:25AM JST

some14some. I thought you were the defender of all things China. So we can expand that coverage to North Korea now? A state that starves its own population. A state that allows nearly no human rights. And a nation that suffers under selfimposed medieval conditions because it is run like a twisted doomsday cult.

So just exactly what do you want? The continued suffering of an entire nation of people for the benefit of propaganda and China's buffer state between their semi-repressive state and a free South Korea?

Kim Jung Il is dead. Good riddance. Sadly it does not fortell the end of the regime, but more likely the continuation of the cult state.

So again, just what positives do you see here? Do defend your obviously untennable position.
-1

some14someDec. 27, 2011 - 12:53PM JST

So just exactly what do you want? The continued suffering of an entire nation of people for the benefit of propaganda and China's buffer state between their semi-repressive state and a free South Korea?

if true, why has International Community not done anything so far? why don't US and its allies go for a regime change that they have been doing in some countries like Iraq, Libya....?
1

tkoind2Dec. 27, 2011 - 02:25PM JST

some14some. Why hasn't China? Or some other country for that matter?

The truth is North Korea is a horrific little side act as far as the world is concerned. It is a humanitarian disaster that we all wish could be resolved. But we are not willing to sacrifice South Korea to improve the state of North Koreans.

Why?

Because it would take far too little effort and time for N. Korea to destroy much of the south before they could be neutralized. And that would be an even greater tragedy. So instead we hope for change. Change from the oppressed people themselves. Sadly that has not come to pass.

FYI, I was not for US action in Iraq. I did and still do think it was wrong. Libya, well... that one is harder. But at least we were invited to join that fight and not imposed upon the locals.
1

tkoind2Dec. 27, 2011 - 02:27PM JST

One more thought. If the people of N.Korea reach out and ask for help to overthrow their oppressors, then I would be in favor of supporting them.

If China is smart, they will too. Otherwise it reveals far to much about China's negative intentions in the region.
0

YubaruDec. 27, 2011 - 05:12PM JST

No they shouldn't. If there were official diplomatic relations then by all means follow protocol, however NK is not inviting (many if any at all) foreign dignitaries to the funeral and other foreigners are not welcome either so no no don't.

If any condolences should be sent it should be sent to the people of NK who had/have to live under the regime of the Kim-klan!
0

some14someDec. 27, 2011 - 05:45PM JST

some14some. Why hasn't China? Or some other country for that matter?

It's no secret that ONLY US tries to"police the world" and going for regime change wherever it likes to...not China or any other country. so, if the world is really concerned about the peoeple of NK, they (US) should engage with China and discuss how to bring this hermit nation NK in the main stream. Dream on? yes, let's all "enjoy" Media Bias.
0

Ah_soDec. 27, 2011 - 11:52PM JST

This question is a joke. Why would Japan? How could Japan?

This is a man who helped arrange the kidnap of Japanese citizens and yet some people post on here that Japan should send condolences. A phony, tick-box condolence will only send the message that N. Korea can do what it wants and Japan will still roll over like a puppy.

some14some - you state that Japan should if it thinks it lives in a civilised world. A world with a monster like Kim Jong-Il is not civilised. It is perhaps now a little more civilised now that he is dead.
0

tkoind2Dec. 28, 2011 - 09:11AM JST

some14some. Nonsense. Try the propaganda speeches somewhere else. Your posts read as clear propaganda and party lines. Give it a rest.

China fails to deal with the problems in NK because it likes having that buffer state. Period. Engagement has not worked even for China and you know it.

Many people around the world are concerned about the people of NK. But when NK threatens to devastate the South if anyone interferes with them, then what can we do? And when the nation most able to influence NK fails to do so, China, then what options are on the table?

We cannot sacrifice the people of South Korea to save the north. The North must want to be saved, and then the world will help. And you know it.

As for tribute to KJI. Get bent. He can rot in hell. No monster who abuses people in the way he does should be rewarded with any consideration at all. If it were up to me he would be buried in an unmarked grave in a waste dump along with all the other murderous tyrants from around the world.

And do give the anti-US propaganda a rest mate. I don't speak for the US or their policies. I speak for others like me who put the interests of human beings before the interests of states or ideologies.