Do not be fooled by the smile democracy and staged reconciliation—now is the time to put strong pressure on North Korea to denuclearize. After all, just because North Korea has asked for talks with the United States and South Korea does not mean that its leaders have abandoned their nuclear and missile development […]
The international situation surrounding North Korea is changing rapidly, and recent developments could present the perfect opening to resolve the abduction issue. It goes without saying that complete resolution entails the return of all abductees, and such an opportunity must not be missed. An Inter-Korean summit meeting is set to take place on […]
The coming historic meeting between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un provides an extraordinary opportunity to reduce tensions in Asia, or it could push us forward towards a possible confrontation. The opportunity emerged following soft diplomatic overtures between North and South Korea during the Olympic Games in […]
Views on nuclear issues are voiced strongly in Japan, where nuclear devastation has had a direct impact on thousands of lives not only in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Fukushima, but also in cases such as the Daigo Fukuryū Maru, the Number Five Lucky Dragon fishing boat whose story inspired the Godzilla movies. The […]
United States President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, March 8 (Friday, March 9, in Japan) that he would be meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un amid rising tension over North Korea’s aggressive nuclear buildup. “Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze. Also, no missile testing […]
The continued nuclear and long-range missile threats from North Korea present a good opportunity to think about how Japan should protect itself. Ryozo Kato, veteran diplomat and former Japanese ambassador to the United States, offers his viewpoint. Discussion of North Korean nuclear capabilities are generally centered on nuclear warheads and intercontinental ballistic […]
North Korean beauties have arrived at the PyeongChang Olympic venue on February 7. Will the situation play out as thought by North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un? Whether it follows predictions or not, the Moon Jae-in administration is set to welcome North Korea’s participation during the PyeongChang Olympic Games with open arms, despite domestic opposition and concerns […]
Many expected North Korea to conduct yet another missile test last December 17, the sixth anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s death. Such tests have, rather worryingly, become something of a regular occurrence for Japan, with a North Korean intermediate-range missile passing over Hokkaido in August and September. Although no such test happened, the United […]
The escalating war of words between United States President Trump and Kim Jong-un, the hereditary dictator of North Korea, is making a dangerous situation worse. We cannot afford to dismiss it as a schoolboy “Yah-Boo” quarrel. There is a real danger that an incident involving a ship or an aircraft could lead to retaliation […]
