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China-Japan-Koreas
Japan PM Treads Delicately on N. Korea
2005-02-12
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi tried Friday to calm growing cries for economic sanctions against North Korea after the communist country announced it had nuclear weapons, even as Tokyo prepared to ban the North's ships from entering its ports starting next month. Koizumi said economic sanctions against the North could threaten six-nation talks aimed at getting Pyongyang to give up its atomic program.
I'd say NKor belligerence and nuke rattling had already threatened the talks...
"I understand the feelings behind growing calls for economic sanctions, but dialogue and pressure are important," Koizumi told reporters in the northern city of Sapporo. The comments were broadcast by Fuji TV. Public support for economic sanctions has surged amid the ongoing dispute between Tokyo and Pyongyang over the North's abductions of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s.
Posted by:Fred

#8  Somebody say
Torah! Torah! Torah!
Climb Mt. Hebron!
Posted by: Moshe Nagumo   2005-02-12 3:58:56 PM  

#7  Time for S Korea, Japan, and Taiwan to announce their intent to develop nukes. Then watch how fast China will curb their dog.
Posted by: AJackson   2005-02-12 1:08:23 PM  

#6  Koizumi is worried about something that has gone and is heading nowhere. Like, 50 years of jive by the Norks has not produced anything but a shaky cease fire. Shut the Norks out. If Kimmie does not get his way, he will ALWAYS threaten those who would deny him a Sea of Fire (TM).
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2005-02-12 11:45:49 AM  

#5  "...economic sanctions against the North could threaten six-nation talks..."
There are no six-nation talks. The North has made that clear. But that doesn't rule out five-nation talks.
Posted by: Tom   2005-02-12 10:40:35 AM  

#4  Dear Leader Kim,

Does the phrase 'Tora, Tora, Tora' mean anything to you?
Posted by: Junichiro Koizumi   2005-02-12 10:26:07 AM  

#3  True, E. Yee, South Korea must be seen as in sync with the Japanese show de'jur for the 'in your face' intent to be absorbed by the NORKS! South Korea will eventually have to accept the 'Red Or Dead' threat from the NORKS as a serious threat for their democracy! My advice to the South would be to play ball with the US and Japan on this one.
Posted by: smn   2005-02-12 4:33:30 AM  

#2  But that's the problem, smn, "in concert with South Korea." Isn't the government -- and aren't the younger generation -- far-leftist?
Posted by: Edward Yee   2005-02-12 3:15:51 AM  

#1  The thought of that NORK missile flying over Japan, is what Koizumi can't get out of his mind! What Japan should do, to shore up determination and resolve in concert with South Korea is to fire it's own missile over South Korea! The gall of this type action would cement the unity of the US, Japan, and South Korea, in any action that might be contemplated by the North.
Posted by: smn   2005-02-12 1:02:13 AM  

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