COMMENTARY
Japan needs good defense vs. N. Korea

By Zenko Paul Sakomizu

The geopolitical strategies that America, Japan and South Korea have used to contain North Korea's aggressive military buildup with technology include both carrot and stick.

Japan's launch of its first spy satellites in March began a surveillance program prompted by tensions over North Korea's long-range missiles and suspected nuclear weapons. Advertiser library photo • March 28, 2003

However, the very containment we used to keep North Korea at bay has now found our side being threatened. North Korea made a blatant statement when it launched a multistage missile over Honshu, the main island of Japan.

Now, they have a stick to use and barter with against us.

What should we do?

I am of the opinion that Japan should start a military buildup, with our blessings, of their Self Defense Forces with nuclear capability. But because the general population of Japan abhors nuclear weapons, America should make it known to North Korea that, should it launch a nuclear strike against Japan, America will retaliate for Japan with nuclear weapons.

North Korea has kidnapped innocent Japanese civilians and murdered some of them. From what I understand, the government of North Korea is actually using the children who had to be left behind in North Korea by returning Japanese citizens. The Japanese children are being used as bargaining chips for political purposes by North Korea, a wicked ploy.

North Korean spy trawlers should be sunk on sight by the Japanese Self Defense Forces navy and captives should face serious interrogation.

North Korea's actions support my contention for a Pax Americana world; one all-powerful military bringing stability to the chaotic world we live in. Our staunchest allies, the United Kingdom and Japan, have proven their allegiance should there be a crisis.

Even though our military industrial complex sells military hardware, ships, jets and other weapons to the Self Defense Forces of Japan, our government should finally let the Japanese forces work with their high-tech companies such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and other industrial complexes to let Japan develop its own weapons for defense, and, if their constitution is ratified, for offense when they are faced with imminent danger — in this case, from North Korea.

The people of Japan have to be made aware that the world has changed since the day their constitution was written, forbidding war as an instrument of foreign policy. Danger abounds in Northeast Asia.

The populace of Japan must realize that because they do not have a military deterrent, a scoundrel nation such as North Korea can actually hold hostage Japanese children to beget concessions from Japan.

One of the credos of our FBI is more firepower than the criminal in a gunfight. Japan needs to have more firepower than North Korea. North Korea will back down and soften its rhetoric, as when our military began to show a force of arms there.

The bottom line is North Korea's despotic regime and military has to be dismantled. Japan has proved to be a steadfast ally of the United States and the United Kingdom, two countries that have and will support a Pax Americana world.

Recently, President Bush was in Southeast Asia attending the APEC conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

One would assume that he would have gone to South Korea, given the tension that is ambivalent with North Korea, but for whatever reason, it did not happen. Why President Bush would not visit South Korea can only be left up to conjecture. There could have been secret discussions between their high-level ministers and our counterparts before Bush went to Bangkok, to bait and see what North Korea would do if we seemingly ignore them.

Whatever the reason, I am certain Bush has access to information that is meant to help us, and we should stand united against terrorism. A shogun once said, "Life is carrying a heavy burden down a long road."

We should support Bush in this time of dire need for us and the free world.

Zenko Paul Sakomizu is a writer and researcher who lives in Honolulu.