Japan threatens force against North Korea

[Senjojutsu]

Check this BBC story out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2757923.stm (http://http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2757923.stm)

Japan has warned it would launch a pre-emptive military action against North Korea if it had firm evidence Pyongyang was planning a missile attack.    Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba said it would be "a self-defence measure" if North Korea was going to "resort to arms against Japan".

How is this story playing over there in Japan?

Sounds like the the Japanese are taking a pro-active stance.

Maybe they can teach the Germans and French an object lesson?
Well, maybe the Germans at least.

[Exorcist_Fist]

I just read the story on CNN. In that story, it specifically mentioned Tokyo Governor Ishihara as being the guy who said it. He is an extremely xenophobic bastard, who once called tanks to Ginza during an Earthquake drill, to "machine gun the foreign looters".

As for how its playing in Japan, I have not seen any mention of it on the english language papers/sites I read.

[Exorcist_Fist]

Japan eyes role in UNSC dialogue on North Korea

Japan plans to consult with members of the United Nations Security Council over the North Korean nuclear weapons standoff following a nuclear watchdog's decision to refer the issue to the top U.N. panel, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Thursday.
Japan and South Korea are not Security Council members and are therefore concerned they may be left out of the loop when the issue is discussed.

"There is that problem," Fukuda acknowledged during a news conference. "We'll have to talk to Security Council members so they will not make a decision without listening to Japan and South Korea."

Japan is seeking a new dialogue framework involving the Security Council's five permanent members plus Japan and South Korea. "There is talk of a 'P5-plus-two,' and (the five members) should consider this," Fukuda said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation governing board decided Wednesday to bring North Korea's nuclear violations before the Security Council, with the support of 33 countries, including Japan.

The Security Council has the power to take punitive measures against North Korea, including economic sanctions, but Fukuda voiced opposition to taking such action immediately.

"I wonder if imposing sanctions would lead to a peaceful solution," he said. "We will have to see how North Korea responds to our calls. We expect to solve the issue through dialogue."

At the same time, Fukuda demanded that Pyongyang "take seriously" the IAEA's resolution, and "immediately take action to dismantle its nuclear weapons program in a verifiable manner."