Japan's willingness to engage with N Korea may test allies' patience

Cheap labor, rare metals, untapped gas, happy people, amazing tourism prospects. And a short ship ride away. Sounds like a gold mine.

N Korea has no political or ideological willingness to engage with Japan its government or people.

At any level,

The only last thread of diplomacy is more the risk US retaliation.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida might as well be communicating with a lamp post.

An offshore nuclear deterrent maybe the only option.

Persuading J people is another matter altogether.

N Korea cannot be trusted to change a nappy

Yes, the Allies "may" be annoyed at Japan's willingness to communicate with NKorea. But they may equally be satisfied that at least one open channel remains open.But either way since NKorea has shown no willngness to talk to anybody, it's an unnecessary concern either way.

No happy ending OssanAmerica. nothing other than a waiting game for the inevitable.

Both the dictatorships of China, Russia, and N Korea are not friendly freedom loving diplomacies.

It is time to reach out to UK nuclear tech to level the playing field, and J tech could raise the bar.

Talking is a lot better shooting.

Some time you have to deal with the DEVIL as long as you keep the peace.

Of course, the war profits racket will fall apart.

Cheap labor, rare metals, untapped gas, happy people, amazing tourism prospects. And a short ship ride away. Sounds like a gold mine.

The place is a totalitarian train wreck where people are forced to live on boiled grass and insects.

"Happy people"?

They are our neighbor while US is half a world away. Is obvious we want a peaceful and trading relation with NK if it is possible. There is really no need for hostility and these constant launches of missiles if we just stop bothering how they run the country. It ain't our business anyway.

We tried the West way for more than 7 decades. Didn't do much except raising the tension. Maybe is time we just try something else.

Korea will stay divided………

HiroJuly 15 10:32 pm JST

There is really no need for hostility and these constant launches of missiles if we just stop bothering how they run the country.

How is anybody bothering how they run the country in this day and age? They wanted to "run the country" with nukes for no reason and now they have to accept the consequences of that.

We tried the West way for more than 7 decades. Didn't do much except raising the tension. Maybe is time we just try something else.

I don't think China and its orbit will be good friends to Japan, do you? Especially considering Russia holds Japanese territory and China speculates on what an independent Okinawa could look like.

It’s always good to be positive and have a chat rather than be a negative Nellie

It is OK to talk, as long as it doesn't result in a "Peace in our Lifetime" narrative. Keep an open mind, and open eyes.

"If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends, you talk to your enemies."

~Desmond Tutu