Latest 15 of 46 Total Comments Show All

• 

  shiuu at 09:13 AM JST - 1st January

  Since the Japanese government won't do it, I've composed the appropriate response for them:

  "Dear North Korea,

  Kiss My A**.

  Japan"

• 

  UnagiDon at 09:32 AM JST - 1st January

  Please enlghten me on the international laws, which state that the pursuit of obtaining nuclear weapons is an illegal act by all but white people and those who already have them?

  That "international law" would be the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which North Korea was a signatory until it withdrew in 2003, i.e. during the time it was enriching uranium and developing nuclear weapons in violation of a treaty to which it was a signatory.

  But please, feel free to find a way to blame that on Japan too.

• 

  nigelboy at 10:20 AM JST - 1st January

  However back to point, if Japan cannot behave in a diplomaticly mature manner and keep her issues about the kidnapped Jaapanese for another forum, then Japan should go and take the dog for a walk and let the other 5 resolve this issue.

  So what's the hold up then? NK doesn't have to resolve the abduction issue in order to denuclearize. And certainly, it does not need Japan's approval as evidenced by the past concessions the Big Boy's have made without Japan's approval. And nowhere does the Joint Statement state that the energy assistance has to be borne equally by 5 nations.

  The point here is that the so called the Big Boys(especially U.S.) have in fact "run the show" without Japan's input as you have so desired. But now, it's NK that's dragging Japan into the mixture as another reason to "derail" the talks for the 7th time.

• 

  OssanAmerica at 11:03 AM JST - 1st January

  if Japan cannot behave in a diplomaticly mature manner and keep her >issues about the kidnapped Jaapanese for another forum, then Japan >should go and take the dog for a walk and let the other 5 resolve this >issue.

  It appears to me that Japan has and continues to act in a very mature manner regarding the abduction issue. Hell if it were my country, or Israel for example, we'd be at war over it. You seem to miss the point that NKorea is the one begging for aid. And the only negotiating chip they have effectively extorcion. The truth is that the US or China or Russia could destroy this NKorean regime in a matter of days if they wished. And at some point, such an action may start making political and economic sense. NKorea is in no position to be making any demands on ony of the 6 party members. And only idiots would appease them.

• 

  Nessie at 12:02 PM JST - 1st January

  from wiki

  The Juche Idea (Korean: 주체사상, Chuch'e Sasang) is the official state ideology of North Korea . . . Juche literally means "main body" or "subject"; it has also been translated in North Korean sources as "independent stand" and the "spirit of self-reliance".

• 

  Dogdog at 06:34 PM JST - 1st January

  That "international law" would be the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which North Korea was a signatory until it withdrew in 2003,

  As far as North Korea goes, I think that treaty became void with Bush's Axis Of Evil speech and the unprovoked attack on Iraq. And pleeeeeeezze. don't tell me the US or Europe have never broken any treaties.

  If the group of 5 don't give any aid to North Korea, I'm sure N Korea will be happy to keep their nukes. America's kept theirs, China's kept theirs, Russia's's kept theirs, Israel's kept theirs, India's kept theirs so why can't North Korea, to protect herself from a US attack keep theirs?

• 

  OssanAmerica at 12:00 AM JST - 2nd January

  As far as North Korea goes, I think that treaty became void with Bush's >Axis Of Evil speech and the unprovoked attack on Iraq. And pleeeeeeezze. >don't tell me the US or Europe have never broken any treaties.

  NKorea's behavior from after the Korean War right up the present has been nothing but acts of terrorism and aggression, especially towards SKorea. Then there are the abductions of the Japanese civilians as well as the USS Pueblo incident. Do not delude yourself into thinking that NKorea suddenly "became" evil after the Bush Axis speech.

  If the group of 5 don't give any aid to North Korea, I'm sure N Korea >will be happy to keep their nukes. America's kept theirs, China's kept >theirs, Russia's's kept theirs, Israel's kept theirs, India's kept >theirs so why can't North Korea, to protect herself from a US attack >keep theirs?

  Those other countries weren't letting their people die in droves of starvation for it were they?

• 

  UnagiDon at 02:37 AM JST - 2nd January

  dogdog;

  As far as North Korea goes, I think that treaty became void with Bush's Axis Of Evil speech and the unprovoked attack on Iraq. And pleeeeeeezze. don't tell me the US or Europe have never broken any treaties.

  Ah, so now the point you're trying to make is no longer which international laws/treaties NK has broken, but rather justifying NK's breaking of such laws/treaties based on the US' actions?

  Kind of a double-standard from someone who earlier accused another of moving the goalposts, I'd say. Not to mention being a cop-out.

• 

  Youdontknow at 03:03 AM JST - 2nd January

  North Korea expecting everyone else in the six-party talks to stick to their part of the deal, while North Korea feels they have the right to ignore their part!

• 

  Capster78 at 06:04 AM JST - 2nd January

  I think it is about time everyone realized that North Korea's empty threats are only to get everyone to pay them off. The North Korean rigime exists by extorting the South and its allies. To give in to such tactics is to support North Korea and it's cleansing of the Korean people. Kim Jong Ill knows that if he were to attack the South, it would be over for him.

• 

  gonemad at 11:21 AM JST - 2nd January

  I think some of you here need to get your facts straight. First of all, regarding the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT):

  The NPT gives every signatory state the right to withdraw from the treaty with 3 months notice. NK has officially done so. As a consequence, there is no international law which would prohibit them the development or possession of nuclear weapons.

  The signatory states of the NPT agreed to work together towards complete nuclear disarmament. The NPT has been signed 40 years ago and no serious attempt towards this goal has been made since then by the owner states of nuclear weapons towards this goal. During the last review conference in 2005, especially the US were blocking all related discussion attempts. Actually I think the nuclear arsenal of the owner states has even increased since then, but I can't prove it quickly. This could be interpreted as a breach of contract by the nuclear owner states.

  Under the NPT, every state has the right to peacefully use nuclear energy. This applies as well to NK or Iran. Being member of the NPT or not, NK has the right to civil nuclear energy by international laws. As a result of the 6-party talks, NK has agreed to dismantle the Yongbyon reactor, since it constitutes the only way to effectively hinder them from getting sufficient enriched Uranium for further nuclear weapons. This is an extensive concession and as a compensation for it's abandonment of civil nuclear energy, the country would receive the energy aid mentioned in above article. Obviously, Japan is breaking the contract here.

  In the 6-party talks, there are several working groups, one of them being responsible for the improvement of bilateral relations between NK and Japan. Here Japan can discuss the abduction issue. Furthermore, it had been agreed in the 6-party talks that progress of none of the working groups should affect the result of the other working groups. There is no provision for retroactively jeopardizing agreements made in the denuclearization working group due to issues in the bilateral relations group.

  All in all, Japan's stance is against the previous contracts, childish and against it's own interest. Denuclearization of NK should be more important than solving crimes which happened decades ago.

  PS: I think I have to write it here, as many people are too emotional in this discussion: this is not intended as a defense of the DPRK, it's regime and it's equally erratic behaviour.

• 

  Seiharinokaze at 07:32 PM JST - 2nd January

  The NPT gives every signatory state the right to withdraw from the treaty with 3 months notice. NK has officially done so. As a consequence, there is no international law which would prohibit them the development or possession of nuclear weapons.

  North Korea ratified the NPT in December, 1985, but gave notice of withdrawal from the treaty in January, 2003 following U.S. allegations that it had started an illegal enriched uranium weapons program. Under the NPT, each non-nuclear weapon state undertakes not to manufacture or acquire such weapons and not to receive any assistance in their manufacture. Obviously North Korea was breaking the contract there, not to mention what Dr. Khan did to the country. At least she might as well have tried to vindicate herself at the time before exercising her right of withdrawal from the NPT.

  If North Korea raises difficulties because Japan's share of heavy fuel assistance is not being implemented by Japan, even though other countries will do it on her behalf thus not affecting on what she can get after all, NK seems to be just trying as usual to get away with not carrying out her share of promise by quibbling over something less crucial. Dismantlement of nuke facilities, however, cannot be done by proxy.

  All in all, Japan's stance is against the previous contracts, childish and against it's own interest. Denuclearization of NK should be more important than solving crimes which happened decades ago.

  Solving the crimes committed decades ago might reveal a bit more about nuclearization of NK. There are 19 Japanese people missing to date who have technology and knowledge crucial to the development of nuclear energy, nuclear arms and missiles. North Korea simply goes and gets what she wants if she cannot make it herself. Bribe financially hard-pressed printing houses associated to the Mint Bureau or simply steal secondhand printing machines and abduct printing engineers too from Japan is the quickest way of acquiring foreign exchange. The idea of "Juche" is mostly fetching, their way of self-reliance.

• 

  gonemad at 07:16 AM JST - 3rd January

  There are 19 Japanese people missing to date who have technology and knowledge crucial to the development of nuclear energy, nuclear arms and missiles.

  It's the first time for me to hear this. Could you please give some references?

• 

  Seiharinokaze at 09:51 AM JST - 3rd January

  gonemad,

  Sankei newspaper of Dec. 28th carried the news referring to a civic group that investigates the specific missing-persons problems (特定失踪者問題調査会). The group prepares a "mapping list" that classifies those missing persons according to his/her job, career and the circumstances under which they disappeared. Though they are not acknowledged as victims of abduction as yet, the characteristics of the list let emerge the involvement with North Korea's notorious state undertaking. http://sankei.jp.msn.com/world/korea/081228/kor0812282116004-n1.htm

  Bribe financially hard-pressed printing houses associated to the Mint Bureau

  BTW let me change the above into "Loan those people until it becomes uncollectable. Then make arrangements for their midnight flitting to North Korea."

• 

  gonemad at 04:43 AM JST - 6th January

  Seiharinokaze, thanks for the link. As far as my - admittedly rather limited - understanding of the article goes, it seems rather speculative and I wouldn't count Araki and the organization which he represents as a neutral source for such claims. I don't say it can't be true, though.

Register or login to add a comment!