North Korea Threatens Japan Again

North Korea is once again threatening Japan. North Korea is threatening to not allow Japan to participate in the six party talks regarding their on going nuclear program if the Japanese government continues to persue economic sanctions and a bill promoting North Korean human rights.

This diplomatic issue began when the remains of a kidnapped Japanese citizen were returned to Japan and the DNA test of the remains proved they were not of that person. North Korea denies the allegations.

The North’s Central Television Broadcasting Station blamed Japan in a Thursday report for its alleged manipulation of DNA tests on the remains of Megumi Yokota, a Japanese national kidnapped by North Korean agents in 1977.

“It has become difficult for us to sit down with Japan at the six-party talks because Japan has little faith and few morals,” the North’s official mouthpiece said.

Calls for sanctions against North Korea have risen in Japan ever since the remains that Pyongyang returned to Tokyo in November turned out to be inconsistent with Megumi’s DNA type.

The Pyongyang regime swiftly declared that it would consider any sanctions a declaration of war.

Obviously Japan is not to concerned about war because they are moving forward with the sanctions. So in response North Korea is just trying to play what little cards they have left to influence Japan’s decision making. I doubt it is going to work. If I was Japan I would state that if I was left out of the negotiations, I would feel obligated then to build my own nuclear deterent. That would really call North Korea’s bluff and get China greatly involved in solving the nuclear issue.

What I find really amazing but not really suprised by is the stance of the South Korean government.

Paik and other North Korea experts in Seoul said they believe the current diplomatic row between Pyongyang and Tokyo was caused by the North’s mistake, not an intentional move to anger Japan.

“(North Korea’s leader) Kim Jong-il is in a position to court financial aid from Japan,” Paik said. “It’s unlikely Pyongyang has sent false remains to Tokyo intentionally, given that Kim Jong-il has tried to improve the North’s relations with Japan.”

Lee Jae-joung, senior vice president of the constitutional Advisory Council on Democratic and Peaceful Unification, also believes the North has nothing to gain by irritating Japan.

“I think it’s wrong to interpret the mistake as something conducted on purpose,” Lee said in a telephone interview. “There could be some mistakes during or after the cremation of her in Pyongyang. I think it’s more proper for Japan to officially ask North Korea to remedy the situation.”

The Seoul government is keeping a low profile over the alleged “false remains” issue. Vice Unification Minister Rhee Bong-jo told reporters on Thursday that it is not appropriate for Seoul to express its stance on this bilateral issue between North Korea and Japan.

Has nothing to gain from sending false remains? These Japanese citizens trained spies. Some of these spies are probably still operating in Japan. The Norks have everything to lose if they sent the correct remains. Also, how do you call sending the wrong remains a mistake? A mix up at the crematory? Some how I don’t by that. Well, if the Korean government can ignore thousands of North Korean defectors, ignoring this issue is really easy.