It seems as though he has done it once again.
The incumbent U.S President, for the first time in its post war history has officially announced that he will hold a dialogue with the North Korean despot. Given the fact that no sitting U.S President has ever met Pyongyang commander in chief in post WW2 history, yesterday’s announcement was indeed historic.
When the Korean War ended in 1953, it was not the Lee Syngman’s South Korean puppet regime but the “UN Allied powers” (de facto U.S military) that signed armistice with the North. As the Japanese have never signed a peace treaty with the Russians due to the prolonged territorial dispute in the “Northern Territories” adjacent to Hokkaido – Etorofu, Kunashiri, Habomai and Shikotan islands, the same goes with the Washington and Pyongyang.
“I want a peace treaty with you, Sir Donald” – Kim Jong un shall suggest in May.
Purportedly, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his comrades are skeptical of Kim Jong un “giving up it nuclear weapons” – and fiercely oppose Trump’s move to meet Kim “without preconditions”. Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe on the other hand, almost lost face when his “golf partner” suddenly announced to the press that he’ll meet the obese dictator – but was later revealed that Trump had called Abe right after he answered “Yes” to the South Korean counterpart visiting Washington.
As a Japanese national, I must say that it is a pure shame that while the Pyongyang nuke-warheads are locked onto Tokyo and Kyoto, we are virtually left out of the talks. Our overly subservient attitude towards Washington since our obsolete post war constitution was promulgated in 1947 undoubtedly is the primary factor why things are the way they are today.
Like the British former PM James Cameron was often mocked as the “Panting Puppy” of America, Tokyo unfortunately is nothing different.
Time for a change
Personally speaking, I condone the drastic move by Trump.
Though it is simply unthinkable that Kim will actually abandon his “Toy” (Nukes, of course), there still is about a 30% possibility that “something could change” – which I think is a positive thing. Change is always good, to my understanding.
The Tokyo-Pyongyang relationship had reached a point of ‘stalemate’ since Pyongyang tested its first “nuclear bomb” in 2006. Condolezza Rice and state department official Christopher Hill made a crucial mistake back in 2008, when they were overwhelmingly “Pro-North Korean” to lift the U.S sanctions imposed on Pyongyang under the Bush administration. (Without even consulting Tokyo)
But nothing changed.
Why!? Of course, North Korea is truly a master of repudiating “deals”.
And we all know that, don’t we!?
In 1994, Hillary’s husband was also duped. The Kim dynasty is truly a master of provocation, intimidation and deception. And the West was dumb enough to repeat the mistakes.
Then now comes Donald, the “Tough Negotiator”.
Will he be duped again!? Possibly. But one thing for certain is that Trump meeting Kim vindicates tough U.N sanctions strategy imposed on the North. That’s right, its working.
Though optimistic, I am not a prophet so whether or not a “striking a DEAL” will occur is yet unclear.
The “UNPREDICTABLES” (Trump and Kim) could call the whole thing off anytime. Yet based on the current vulnerable, unstable and combustible circumstances, let me suggest that should the “dialogue” take place, TOKYO would be the ideal host.
Here are 7 reasons why.
1. Tokyo is the “safest city” among the G7 nations. We all know that. You cant buy guns for $199 at Walmart here. And of course the U.S President’s security concern. By maintaining 2000 km distance from the Korean Peninsula, he shall be safe and sound, protected by the Japanese army and the 50,000 American troops (Including Mr. USS Ronald Regan in Yokosuka) stationed in Japan.
2. Geopolitically, Tokyo lies between the Asian continent and the North American. Beijing is eager to host the dialogue as the “rising global power” of course – but Kim fears being blown up on the railway track, just like his father was.
3. Fujiya Hotel in Hakone Onsen – about an hour car ride from Tokyo by Mt.Fuji is where the historic meeting should be held. JOHN LENNON used to visit this classic hotel established in 1878 following the renowned Meiji Restoration. The two leaders can send the message of “LOVE” and “IMAGINE” as they hop into the Onsen together fully naked. As the old Japanese saying “Hadacano Tsukiai” (Naked friendship, intimate as they take bath together) goes – the two fat guys in one boiling hot Rotenburo will dominate the headlines.
Kim can fly directly to Shizuoka Mt.Fuji Airport, then a car. That way his security will be guaranteed even further.
Trump on the other hand must use Tokyo Haneda Airport, and not Yokota as he had previously done. His entrance thorough a monstrous U.S base ( size equivalent to 157 Tokyo Domes!) will not only prove provocative to Kim, but a sitting U.S President entering Japan through the backdoor (defying the official, legal procedures) will only humiliate Tokyo as the ‘Colony of America’. (Remember, that any CIA spies or U.S government officials can enter and leave Japan through Yokota without leaving any legal record, which I believe is a concrete proof that my country is far from being defined as a sovereign nation. Sad!)
4. North Korean nukes are locked on to Tokyo. Therefore, Kim should show his credibility to “abandon Nukes” at least by setting his foot on the “targeted soil”. He’s got to impress the world that he’s got the balls.
5. DMZ is by far too risky. We’ve got to bear in mind that there are over 1,000,000 troops on stand-by across the border on the other side. Should some sort of “accident” occur, Mr Trump will be a dead meat. No escape.
6. Trump wants to ‘strike a deal’ ahead of November’s U.S midterm election. And that could mean enforcing Kim to abandon ICBMs that can reach the U.S mainland (N.Y Trump Tower, his home), but on the other hand acknowledging Pyongyang’s short-range missiles that is capable of striking Shibuya’s Hachico Dog in merely 8 minutes.
That’s unacceptable to say the least, and surely undermine the “top notch relationship” among the allies. And in order to avoid such a unilateral move by Donald, Tokyo must put strong pressure on the “Wig Man”.
7. The Japanese today are nothing but a flock of sheep these days. By holding direct talks in its capitol, it may work as a remedy to wake up the emasculated nation unaware of the imminent threats not only from the North but by far more powerful neighbors Xi Jinping the ‘indefinite ruler Pooh” and Vladimir “Machoman” Putin.
In order to maintain peace and balance within the region, it would be crucial for the descendants of the proud Samurais to have concerns over global issues by abandoning its insular mindedness. Remember fellas, all our neighbors possess nukes, whether as we do not. Where’s our ‘nuclear deterrent’ ？ Oh, Mr. Flip-flop?
To be blunt, that is pretty risky.
Should any contingency occur on the peninsula, S.China sea or Senkaku – WW3 could break out. Who knows!?
Yujiro Taniyama – Japan Broadcasting . net Editor in Chief
