S Korea, U.S., China differ over visit by Abe's envoy to N Korea

"South Korea Thursday criticized an “unhelpful” visit to North Korea by a senior aide to Japan’s prime minister, saying it weakened the united front needed to deal with Pyongyang."

And what does South Korea think it's continued anti-Japan rhetoric and policies are doing?

No offense but SK President didn't mention "Japan" as part of the collective effort on her latest speech in U.S. in regards to dealing with her northern neighbor so the Japanese government acted solo.

Love Korea and Koreans, but a wee bit sick of their governments attitude to Japan. Any country has a sovereign right to deal diplomatically with whoever they like. And couldn't agree more with Ossan America.

“I think obviously we look forward to hearing from the government of Japan more details about this in coming days.

Obama is a card carrying communist, he does not give a shit to Japan. It's time for Japan to bring back his army and cut his umbilical cord with America.

Please Japan, cut your relation with USA already. They're the one who belligerently want war with North Korea. Which make the tension even more dangerous in Asia continent.

True there seems to be no "united front" from the beginning. But aside from South Korea's usual garbage, with or without sanctions in unison by the West (the US actually delisted North Korea from terrorist countries several years ago while Japan urged otherwise without relaxing its own sanctions) NK has never given up development of its nukes. Iran and NK don't sink by sanctions. So Abe may think it better to take back remaining Japanese abductees and normalize relations to reduce tension and if possible also explore for any chance to tap the rich natural resources lying dormant in NK. Northern front from Russia to Mongol might be more than he bargains for.

I'd put my money on this being part of a new step for Abenomics...

I object anyone talking to North Korea. After they pull a stunt like that and you give in and talk to them? That's exactly what they want from you. See how often they want direct talks with the US? That gives them legitimacy if we do a head-to-head talk.

Abe is lacking in so many field and diplomacy is his weakest by far. The guy just has tunnel syndrome. He doesn't understand that hostages taken by North Korea means nothing in the greater scheme of things. Keep dwelling on this issue is not going to help Japan but give excuses to North Korea to continue to blackmail you.

The more important issue is the nuclear issue. Once North Korea completes the bomb. Everything is out of the window. Negotiating with North Korea only buys them time. Having direct talks with them gives them the illusion that if they force the issue, someone will break the chain of command and give into the pressure.

So Stop with this insanity and continue the united front against North Korea. Worst come to mind is the South Korean and China will take a hit. But so what? They've been harboring the North Koreans for way too long. Japan should completely stay out of it. Those missiles are never going to hit Japan whether accurate or not.

Let the big boys handle this. Your domestic issues just cloud up the matter.

All South Korea said was Japanese diplomat visiting North Korea to talk is unhelpful and won't do much other then help the North Korean propaganda. And people at Japantoday are foaming at their mouths and shaking their fists at South Koreans with hate.

Whatever...

Keep it secret but make sure New York Times doesn't come out with details and create embarrassing moments for Abe administration.

The South Korean govt. is childish and immature. How can they possibly know that diplomatic efforts will be unhelpful if they are not the ones apart of the dialogue. This shows how ignorant the current Korean government is when dealing with regional affairs. The japanese issues with the DPRK precedes the current ROK govt and president and pessimism by them is unhelpful.

This is the problem when nutcases get their hands on nukes. No wonder other countries want to have nukes too. It really changes the negotiation position.

That was a seriously bad idea