Japanese Defense Chief: North Korea Will Not Blackmail Us
TOKYO (AP) 5.7.03, 9:40a -- The chief of Japan's Defense Agency called for a tougher approach to North Korea on Wednesday, vowing that his nation would not be "blackmailed" by the communist regime.

The comments by Shigeru Ishiba drew enthusiastic applause from thousands of people at an annual rally for Japanese citizens abducted by the North.

"We won't be threatened by terrorism. We won't be blackmailed," Ishiba said.

Ishiba has urged Japan to strengthen its defense, pointing to North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons program and development of long-range missiles.

Attempts to bolster the military are a sensitive issue in Japan, where the constitution forbids the use of force to settle international disputes. Bitter memories of Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945 have created a strong pacifist undercurrent in public opinion here.

But Ishiba's remarks drew loud applause from the 5,500 people who packed a conference hall to hear him speak. It was the largest gathering since the annual rallies began in 1999, and thousands of people, who stood in line for hours, were turned away at the door, organizers said.

The North's abduction of Japanese to train spies is one of the main sticking points in bilateral relations.

At a September summit with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il admitted his country kidnapped about a dozen Japanese over the years and then returned five of them.

However, North Korea has refused to allow the abductees' children to join them in Japan.

At Wednesday's rally, Deputy Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe called the abductions a "national security issue" and said the government remains committed to negotiations.


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USFK "Tripwire" Renamed/ ROK to ask US troops to stay put.
Perhaps South Korean officials have been taking sensitivity classes. Courtesy the Chosun Ilbo's English edition:

The government said Tuesday that it would stop using the word "tripwire" to refer to the stationing of U.S. forces near the Demilitarized Zone, and would instead use the term "frontline partnership." Americans strongly dislike "tripwire," saying it is a negative concept and degrades the value of the soldiers' lives, an official at the prime minister's office said. The government will use the new term beginning Friday, when Prime Minister Goh Kun visits the headquarters of the U.S. Army's 2nd Infantry Division.
Coincidently, Prime Minister Goh is also expected to ask the Americans to put off planned redeployments until AFTER the North Korean nuclear issue is resolved. Also from the Chosun Ilbo:

Prime Minister Goh Kun and Defense Minister Cho Yung-kil will visit the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division on Friday, just days before President Roh Moo-hyun leaves for his visit to the United States. Goh will express the government's concern about the controversial plan to relocate the division, now centered in the Gyeonggi province city of Uijeongbu, south of the Han River. Goh is expected to request that discussions about the plan be postponed until the North Korean nuclear crisis is resolved.
The prime minister's senior press officer, Kim Duk-bong, said Monday that Goh would meet high U.S. military officials and convey Seoul's stance that the relocation of the division should not yet be discussed. Goh will also affirm that the Korean government officially supports the continued stationing of the division in its current location, Kim said.

Posted by rjkoehler at May 8, 2003 09:54 AM