The abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents decades ago is a national tragedy. It is designated by the Abe administration as the “Most Important Issue,” yet it remains unresolved. This is because North Korea is the subject of international criticism and pressure for an issue other than the abductions: its continued […]
The Izumo, a Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force’s helicopter carrier, sets sail from Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture on Monday, May 1, 2017 to escort a U.S. supply ship. It is the first such operation during peacetime under Japan’s national security laws as tensions mount in the region over North Korea. (Photo by Ryosuke Kawaguchi) (Part […]
Russia is increasing its economic cooperation with North Korea. It turns out that the North Korean combined passenger and cargo ship Mangyongbong-92, which was barred from Japanese waters, will begin regular trips to Russia in May. The ship is planned to make 6 trips a month between Vladivostok, Russia’s easternmost city, and Rason in […]
It is “acceptable” to attack North Korean bases, a big majority—over 75%—of respondents said in the latest opinion poll jointly conducted by the Sankei Shimbun and Fuji News Network (FNN). The poll, conducted by phone on April 15 and 16, asked respondents if Japan should build its defense capabilities in response to North Korea’s […]
This week, in the wake of increasingly shrill North Korean threats, Vice President Mike Pence is in East Asia, rallying the US-South Korea-Japan alliance around the Trump Doctrine of peace through strength. Vice President Pence told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the United States was prepared to use force to bring lasting peace […]
The Sankei Shimbun has begun publishing the series “Letters to Megumi,” written by parents Shigeru and Sakie Yokota to their daughter who is held captive in North Korea. “Mom was so terribly lonely. She tried to shake her loneliness by immersing herself in efforts to bring the abductees home,” Megumi’s parents write in their […]
Megumi, hello. Spring has come round again. It is the season of graduations and matriculations. In the springtime forty years ago, Dad took a picture of you in your middle school uniform standing under the cherry trees. Those cherry trees were especially beautiful. The picture was taken after you had fallen ill and been unable […]
