Japan to postpone talks with N Korea

Japan said it would work closely with the United States, South Korea and China to dissuade North Korea from going ahead with the launch, Jiji Press news agency had earlier reported, quoting government officials

If so, Japan had the best apportunity of personally persuading NK not to go for the launch instead Japan cancelled 5th Dec. meeting....

Yes the meeting should go ahead

Unless N.Korea is trying to intentionally cause systematic collaps of thier own nation, they are crazy to try such a brazen act as they are. They should write a book 'how to isolate your nation and drive your people into the ground.' this policy has not worked in the last 4 years and it will not work now. Their technology is infantile and they need to feed their people first. who cares if they launch that wreck of a rocket they have. if they make a missile who will they fire it at without ensuring their own destruction? And with the anti-missle defence capablities available to S. Korea and Japan or even the U.S. How do they ever intend to use them? Sell them? Scare tactic? I think not. Japan is right in halting meetings with N. Korea. Who has time for this? certainly not Japan, bravo Japan.

"Japan said it would work closely with the United States, South Korea and China to dissuade North Korea from going ahead with the launch"

When has China ever actually acted on behalf of the U.S,, SKorea and Japan against North Korea? Great way to keep regional eyes off of China's taking over the South and east China Seas.

Japan to postpone talks with N Korea ...

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Senior Japanese and North Korean diplomats had been due to meet in Beijing on Dec 5-6 following rare talks in Mongolia in mid-November, ...

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Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda decided Saturday to postpone the bilateral talks ...

Talks about what? The whole meaning of this article, and whether Noda made a clever move or a stupid move, depends on the meaning of the talks being conducted and postponed.

Senior Japanese and North Korean diplomats had been due to meet in Beijing

This meeting is not including US. I would not trust China as a liason. I am glad the meeting has been cancelled.

Oh the abductee congregation wont be happy!!!!

When the Japanese government say they will do everything they can to hasten the return of the abductees they are lying. After doing nothing for four years they finally get round to arranging a meeting, only to call it off in order to posture and lecture North Korea on what they can and cannot do. There are no international laws that prevent North Korea from launching a rocket, so why the Japanese are having hysterics is beyond me. Unfortunately, the media hysteria will play into the hands of the nutcase Abe.

New NK leader but still playing the same old games with the rest of the world. You can only shake your head in disbelief.

N Korea is in a no win situation. No help with technology while they remain a threat to other coutries. No choice but to remain active in trying to develop military technology themselves for as long as their existence is under threat from other countries.

It's not as if South Korea is dying to reunite at the moment. Their economy would likely take the same kind of hit as West Germany's did after reunification. The status quo is fine by them, and by Japan too.

@ globalwatcher

Apparently this meeting is concerning Japanese Nationals and has nothing to do with US. As China has a better relation with North Korea it was the intention of North Korea and Japan to have the meeting in China as a third Country.

RedcliffDec. 03, 2012 - 10:14AM JST

China is good at throwing a screw ball.

@ globalwatcher

Lets face it Japan do not need to involve US in seeking all resolution. It can look after itself very well.

Let's hope North Korea uses the extra thinking time this gives them before they talk to Japan again, to really think of the benefits to them of continuing to hold onto the Japanese citizens they abducted.

It's a shame that this kind of thing has to prolong their captivity and suffering in North Korea.

RedcliffDec. 04, 2012 - 06:21PM JST

@ globalwatcher

Lets face it Japan do not need to involve US in seeking all resolution. It can look after itself very well.

You have not been told the truth how these US negotiators including Bill Richardson were risking their life there.