NK actions against Japan
You have obviously not kept up with news.
Not as well as you, that's for sure.
I have to admit, I'm not too great at geography, either. Europe/Australia are easy, since I actually lived there, but I actually thought Korea was to the west of China! I had no idea NK/SK were so close to Japan.
Thanks for those links, and giving me some homework, I summarized the ones
that I read: (unfortunately I am banned from posting links)
LINK 1
NK spy boats are suspected of illegally entering the country, at Mihama-cho, Mikata County,
Fukui Prefecture in one instance, allegedly to kidnap Japanese nationals (though it doesn't state that kidnapping had in fact occurred, nor does it explain who would be abducted, and to what end).
SW of
Kyushu, one of those spy boats exchanged fire with a J patrol boat, so
it does seem serious -- but looks like the coast guard handled it, and "sent the ten crewmembers to the public prosecutors office on allegations of attempted murder and other counts in March 2003." A correct course of action -- the culprits were not charged with 'terrorism' and thrown into some concentration camp, but were prosecuted through legal means.
I am a little puzzled by the final sentence: "we are in a situation in which the activities of spy boats in the waters surrounding Japan could pose an enormous threat to the safety of Japan." odd choice of words -- a nation of 127 million people, with an obviously competent coast guard, is
enormously threatened by a few lousy spy boats?
LINK 2
"Although the ship had remained outside Japan's territory, it closely resembled a boat sunk by the Japanese coast guard last December which was also thought to be a spy boat from North Korea.[...] It was spotted 400 kilometres (250 miles) west of the Japanese coast but after Japan sent 15 patrol boats backed by aircraft and a destroyer to chase it, it turned and sped in the direction of Korea."
Weasel words in the BBC article, in order:
"suspected" "venturing towards" "closely resembled" "thought to be" "very similar" "appeared to be" "could be used" "allegedly kidnapped" "unconfirmed reports" "raised the possibility"
Seems the BBC was very unsure of what happened.
"It was spotted 400 kilometres (250 miles) west of the Japanese coast but after Japan sent 15 patrol boats backed by aircraft and a destroyer to chase it, it turned and sped in the direction of Korea."
Again, that's quite a powerful response! Article mentioned "scare", but I think I know which of the two parties had more reason to be scared. ;-)
LINK 3
Now selling drugs and buying weapons technology is added to the spy boat's activities... and a reason for wanting to kidnap Japanese citizens: "They also kidnapped Japanese citizens to teach the Japanese language and customs at spy schools." Makes sense, no Japanese citizen would go to NK voluntarily, that's for sure.
"Last year, the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il admitted a dozen abductions in the 1970s and 1980s and allowed five Japanese to go home."
LINK 4 - 6
Didn't read the above, all this reading on a penny-conscious CRT is giving me a headache.
Doesn't the fact that NK has a godlike leader with nuclear power at his disposal pose a threat in your mind?
No, and my reasoning goes as follows:
NK has been
accused of pursuing a nuclear weapons program, by the USA gov. Remember how they had
clear, undeniable evidence that Iraq had WMDs?
And now that the USA has destroyed Iraq, it's Iran's turn. US gov. has
clear, undeniable evidence Iran is building a nuclear bomb.
Iran wants to build nuclear power plants. There is no evidence whatsoever they have the means or the motivation to build a bomb. Iran has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and so is entitled to technical assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency. NPT also means it has the right to build nuclear power plants for peaceful purposes.
The real danger comes from a nuclear accident -- on 9th Feb 2007, under US pressure, IAEA is ending 22 out of 55 technical cooperation projects with Iran, several of them directly related to nuclear safety.
(source: Najmedin Meshkati, 'Waiting for the next Chernobyl', NewScientist, 14 July 2007)
What 'poses a threat in my mind' is the US government, who has tens of thousands of nuclear missiles at its disposal, pursues a policy of pre-emptive war (or merely 'assertive policing' of the 'provinces', whichever way you look at it), and has restarted the nuclear arms race by installing monitoring stations in Poland and Czechoslovakia, gaining first strike capability against Russia.
The fate of the world hinges on the whims of white house Republicans and congress Democrats who, working hand-in-hand, have suspended habeas corpus and disregarded the Constitution, those fundamental principles of freedom, justice and fair play that US citizens should hold dear -- but apparently do not really care about.
I don't understand how someone can be worried about such trifles as Iran, North Korea or Al Quaida, given what has happened to the US.
I don't want to give in to 'it's just business as usual' cynism. It shouldn't be like this, humanity could do better!