Japanese man with wire-cutters detained while trying to cross into N Korea

Friday 20th March, 04:58 AM JST

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goldsounds at 01:56 AM JST - 20th March

Ever read Twain's "The War Prayer"? This story is eerily similar...
GenevaMan at 02:57 AM JST - 20th March

First smithinjapan, read my post again, no need to sigh, I didn't challenge your knowledge about the DMZ beeing heavily militarized.

But trust me, any time one of the above mentioned skirmishes occurs and a soldier on either side dies (or civilian), both sides' media whip it up into a national frenzy, etc.

Nothing new

and my point is in particular that is not needed right now.

Well, we switched to media treatment of 何とか issue... you think that escalation of national pride in each country (ROK, DPRK and Japan) would be conditioned by this kind of event? Naahh, come on, except some internet freaks and trolls who really make it spicy, they hate each other anyway, on a everyday-same-old-same-old-basis. First you made me say what I haven't said (that I pretended that you thought the DMZ is not militarized) to switch to the fact this kind of event can cause international mayhem due to heavy media coverage (which is not true, I think). On the other hand, I definitely think that heavy frenzy hysteric media coverage (on japanese side actually) create the kind of freak that tried to cross the border today, which is a threat to...what?
moshiso7 at 03:20 AM JST - 20th March

smthjpn said:

"This is not just stupid for the individual concerned, this is the kind of incident that helps incite conflicts in the region. Whenever some dimwit, regardless of his/her intentions, tries to cross the border if any guards on either side get involved it usually becomes a skirmish in which Koreans shoot at each other, which in turn puts a major strain on an already tense relationship. The guy is lucky he wasn't shot, and he should be locked up for several years."

You probably must be qinese. No individual specially a foreigner if he/she cross the border would spark anything since it doesn't involve anything that causes suspicion between the Koreas.
northlondon at 03:51 AM JST - 20th March

If this guy wants to risk his life trying to get a message about peace across, then good for him. None of us here would have the balls to try and cross into North Korea to do that. And what's with the 'he appeared mentally ill' quote ? How can that 'official' come to that conclusion overnight when the official is probably not even a psychiatrist ?
TexasAggie at 04:26 AM JST - 20th March

Is this guy a relative of Robert Jenkins?
thepro at 04:56 AM JST - 20th March

lucky he didnt step on a landmine
sensei258 at 05:02 AM JST - 20th March

thepro - I was about to say the same thing. The DMZ is very heavily mined. If he made it into the DMZ (unlikely) without being shot, he would have eventually stepped on one.
Samuraiiki at 08:22 AM JST - 20th March

Ok, here is the real story: he went in as a mediator, knowing the two warring countries can not resolved their problems on their own. Well, at least that was what he thought. Anyway, anything is possible in Lala Land. I would have gone to Pattaya Beach, Angeles City, or Olongapo City to fight a different kind of war.
grafton at 08:25 AM JST - 20th March

northlondon at 03:51 AM JST - 20th March

“And what's with the 'he appeared mentally ill' quote ? How can that 'official' come to that conclusion overnight when the official is probably not even a psychiatrist ?”

And YOU always need a psychiatrist to make such a judgement about the people you meet on your travels through life? Have you thought that the official was trying to be discreet in the way he said this & the truth is the man is a raving lunatic?
lat at 01:00 PM JST - 20th March

grafton at 08:25 AM JST - 20th March

northlondon at 03:51 AM JST - 20th March

“And what's with the 'he appeared mentally ill' quote ? How can that 'official' come to that conclusion overnight when the official is probably not even a psychiatrist ?”

And YOU always need a psychiatrist to make such a judgement about the people you meet on your travels through life? Have you thought that the official was trying to be discreet in the way he said this & the truth is the man is a raving lunatic?

Do you consider yourself a logical or rational person? If so, would you attempt to break into N. Korea as a faceless citizen and negotiate with their govt. brass? I sure as hell wouldnt, and I think anyone who would actually try this has got to have a few marbles missing. Its really not that difficult to accept the validity of a comment like this.
lat at 01:03 PM JST - 20th March

ok, haha. Im having trouble with the "Quote" command.

Heres my post for northlondon:

Do you consider yourself a logical or rational person? If so, would you attempt to break into N. Korea as a faceless citizen and negotiate with their govt. brass? I sure as hell wouldnt, and I think anyone who would actually try this has got to have a few marbles missing. Its really not that difficult to accept the validity of a comment like this.
DjAntomattei at 01:05 PM JST - 20th March

He's not mentally ill, he's just Japanese. South Koreans just do not know that is normal for a man here.
OssanAmerica at 12:14 AM JST - 21st March

He's not mentally ill, he's just Japanese. South Koreans just do not >know that is normal for a man here.

Could you explain what that means? Sorry but don't quite get it.
martyman at 01:20 PM JST - 21st March

Really now! He was going over to N Korea to support the World Baseball Classic Games. Japan vs Korea. If we lost he was going to plant a korean flag at their stadium and threaten the team captain with a punch in the nose. That is the way to make world peace!
DjAntomattei at 04:14 PM JST - 25th March

I thought my comment was pretty self explanatory Ossan. Try to keep up.