When In Doubt Blame the Japanese
South Korea has called for a calm response to North Korea’s missile tests, accusing Japan of heightening tensions through its hawkish remarks.
“There is no reason to fuss over this from the break of dawn like Japan, but every reason to do the opposite,” said a statement from the office of President Roh Moo-hyun’s spokesman.
“There is nothing good in heightening tensions on the Korean peninsula and worsening inter-Korean relations. This will not help at all to settle the nuclear issue or the missile issue,” it said Sunday.
“It is the president’s view not to raise a shrill voice but to respond calmly,” it said.
“The possible launch of a Daepodong missile had been widely publicized in advance. It was aimed at nobody and did not lead to a state of emergency in either our country or other countries.”
Roh’s government has expressed caution at a US and Japanese push to slap further sanctions on North Korea at the United Nations Security Council.
President Roh has been feeling the heat due to his lackluster response to the North Korean missile tests, so he pulled out the first play in the Roh Playbook, which is blame the Japanese. Why not? It usually works despite the idiocy of the comments.
How can he say the missiles were aimed at no one? They were obviously aimed at provoking Japan by landing close to their shores with no fore-warning in advance not to mention almost hitting an Asiana Airliner. Then if the Taepo-dong2 had actually worked who knows where it would have landed. If it would have landed any where near the US shores you would have seen a real increase in tensions.
I’m all for a cool and calculated response to the North Korean threat, but could someone please tell President Roh to shut the hell up.
