The Koreans and the Japaneses are going full retard... doing all this BS to pander to the extremists in their countries...

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national....

Quote:

S. Korea vows 'stern measures' against Japan over Dokdo

South Korea vowed to take "stern measures" on Friday unless Japan withdraws its proposal to take the issue of Dokdo, Seoul's easternmost islets claimed by Tokyo as its territory, to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

It was the first time since 1962 for Japan to make such a proposal to South Korea, the diplomat said.

In Tokyo, the Japanese finance minister said he will reconsider the agreement with South Korea to expand a currency swap to US$70 billion and canceled a meeting set for this month with South Korean Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan.

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news....

Quote:

Japan May File Lawsuit Against S. Korea over Dokdo Case

Japan's Sankei Shimbun reports Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba will decide within the week whether to file a lawsuit against South Korea with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the Dokdo issue.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/87746/japa....

Quote:

Japan-Korea relations hit rock bottom

The latest provocation wasn’t the only growing irritant between the two neighbors. It was presaged by the diplomatic debacle over a seemingly innocuous mutual agreement allowing for the Korean armed forces and Japanese self-defense forces to share intelligence and safeguard sensitive information.

However, the Koreans suddenly withdrew just one hour before the ceremony to sign the agreement on June 29. The proposed agreement had turned toxic in South Korea. The opposition leaped on it as an example of the conservative government coddling the ancient enemy; the minister in charge had to resign. It is possible that President Lee felt he had to visit the Dokdo in order to shore up his, and his party’s patriotic cred.

Rock bottom, now that's funny... not.

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html....

Quote:

Japanese Extremists 'Planning to Storm Dokdo'

Government official believe members of rightwing Japanese groups will attempt to land on Dokdo, angered by President Lee Myung-bak's recent visit to Korea's easternmost islets. Japan maintains a dubious claim to the islets.

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news....

Quote:

S. Korea-Japan Diplomatic Conflicts Spread to Economy and Culture

Diplomatic conflicts between South Korea and Japan are expected to strain economic and cultural ties between the two countries.

There have been reports that the Japanese government is revising the currency swap agreement reached between the leaders of the two sides in retaliation against Seoul.

Wasting their time, focus and energy on that while China and North Korea are much bigger and REAL threats...

http://www.voanews.com/content/japan-mul....

Quote:

Japan Mulls Next Steps in Island Spat with China

The uninhabited islands, known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyo in Chinese, are a frequent flashpoint between Tokyo and Beijing. They are located in a gas-rich area and surrounded by rich fishing grounds.

China's state-run Global Times says the 14 activists brought a "sense of relief" to the Chinese people on the sensitive anniversary, saying such actions "are being backed by the state."

A small but emotional demonstration broke out Thursday outside Japan's consulate in Hong Kong, where the Chinese fishing vessel took off from earlier this week. Some of the protesters, including politician Elizabeth Quat, called for the activists' release.

"I feel very angry and I find this very unacceptable," she said. "We have three requests. We request the Japanese government to release our Hong Kong citizens immediately. Second, get away from our land. Third, apologize to all of the Chinese people in the world."

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY20120816....

Quote:

Newly assertive China wanted the Senkaku stunt to succeed

They came from Hong Kong, but activists who landed on the Senkaku islands knew the applause would be loudest in Beijing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia....

Quote:

Japan’s claim to Okinawa disputed by influential Chinese commentators

And then this...
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news....

Quote:

N. Korea Threatens to Scrap Sept. 19 Joint Statement

U.S. magazine, Foreign Policy, says North Korean officials told U.S. officials during a private meeting in Singapore last month that Pyongyang is no longer interested in an agreement reached earlier on February 29th.

Under the agreement, the communist state agreed to a moratorium on nuclear tests, long-range missile launches and its uranium enrichment program.

http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?....

Quote:

ISIS Warns of 50-Nuke North Korea

North Korea could end the next five years in possession of anywhere from 14 to almost 50 nuclear weapons, according to a new report from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS).

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/north-k....

Quote:

North Korea Able to Test Nuclear Bomb in Two Weeks, Study Finds

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/northkor....

Quote:

N. Korea may be preparing for nuke, missile tests: gov't

North Korea may be preparing to conduct a nuclear or missile test in the near future, a government report submitted during a meeting with ruling party lawmakers showed Friday.

But yeah, Japan and South Korea... keep focusing on trivial crap like the Dodko islands while this is happening... I mean, it's not like the Japanese have an economy to fix...

Nukes? Well, we'd better get some carrier groups there to surround their azz, pronto-like!

.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/201....

Quote:

Powerful uncle of N. Korean leader heads home after visit to China

Whatever NKorea does this week will be done with Chinese approval... test a missile, test a nuke, do some provocation... whatever.

We'll see.

I don't see Japan as being unreasonable here. There is a disputed border and they are taking the dispute to an international court. The Koreans are over-reacting. If you've dealt with Koreans much that isn't terribly surprising.

Sushihorn : well the island is closer to SKorea. And SKorea has had a presence on them for years now. Presence on contested territory is 90% of the law in these matters. Simple as that.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T12....

Quote:

Tokyo govt applies to land on Senkaku island

The Tokyo metropolitan government filed a written request last week with the central government for permission to land on Uotsurijima in the Senkaku Island chain, but the request was left pending due to flaws in the application, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Monday.

This won't go down well in Beijing if it happens.

"Liancourt Rocks are situated at a distance of 215 kilometres (116 nmi) from mainland Korea and 211 kilometres (114 nmi) from the main island of Japan (Honshu). The nearest undisputed Korean island, Ulleung-do, is at a distance of 87 kilometres (47 nmi),[10] while the distance to the nearest undisputed Japanese island, Oki Islands, is 157 kilometres (85 nmi)."

what a huge amount of human energy for relatively insignificant asset
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liancourt_R....

Aliveh
Which is why it's best settled via arbitration than the sort of publicity stunts that China is pulling. China appears to be trying to whip up a nationalist frenzy for war in the face of their ecoomic foundation crumbling. They look a lot like the Argentine junta in 1982.

Sushihorn : this is not just China crumbling economically... Japan and South Korea are too.

Quote:

Sushihorn : this is not just China crumbling economically... Japan and South Korea are too.

While what you say is true, neither country is acting like the Argentine junta. And that is with good reason. Both the tyrants in Beijing and the generals in Buenos Aires shared a lack of political legitimacy and feared a crumbling economy would further undermine them. Thus they whipped up a nationalist war frenzy to distract the populace.

Neither the Japanese nor the S. Korean government has this issue. They are both seen as representative and legitimate by their people. Neither one has the need for jingoism to retain power.

Yeah but still, SKorea and Japan sure use that as an useful distraction. Just like Iran and Israel.

China's regime mouthpiece does it again :
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/728562....

Quote:

China must be ready for further conflict with Japan

Japan's National Police Agency said Tuesday that if Chinese activists land on the Diaoyu Islands again, it will prosecute them. Chinese activists are planning new trips to the Diaoyu Islands, and will not be stopped because of Japan's warning. Japan's threat in fact signifies another round of escalation in the Diaoyu crisis.

The Chinese government should make full preparations for conflict over Diaoyu. The Diaoyu crisis has become irreconcilable after being pushed by Japan's right-wing forces. The tacit consensus between China and Japan that they won't expand the conflict has been broken. Confrontation has dominated the situation. It's impossible for the Chinese government to make a one-sided compromise, as that would deal a catastrophic blow to its credibility.

The Chinese government has to follow public opinion and contend with Japan for control of the Diaoyu Islands. Strategically, that's risky for China, but that's what it has to take.

The Chinese public isn't looking to get back the Diaoyu Islands immediately. But they cannot endure the arrogance and aggressiveness shown by Japan in the Diaoyu Islands conflict. It's the public wish and demand that the government decisively fight against Japan's provocations and make progress in safeguarding the sovereignty of Diaoyu.

The whole thing is hardcore propaganda... I didn't know China had neo-cons too... /sarc

The BS continues...

Quote:

Latest #ROK-Japan tit for tat diplomatic event: S. Korea files formal protest over Japan foreign minister's "illegal occupation" remark.

Quote:

#Japan finance minister now hinting of a freeze on plan to buy #ROK bonds over tensions on disputed islets & perceived insult to Emperor.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/201....

Quote:

S. Korea to send protest letter on Japan FM's remarks over Dokdo

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/201....

Quote:

S. Korea lodges formal protest against Japan FM's remarks over Dokdo