Krauthammer on North Korea: It’s time for Japan to go nuclear
posted at 9:02 pm on May 26, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Food for thought this evening as the NorKs fire yet another missile into the sea. Why would Japan want its own arsenal when it already enjoys the deterrent effect of being under America’s nuclear umbrella? Simple: A Japanese arsenal wouldn’t really be aimed at deterrence. It would be aimed at scaring the hell out of China, where memories of Japanese aggression are long. The thinking, I guess, is that China would be sufficiently cowed by Japanese nukes that they’d have no choice but to try much harder to calm Kim down lest they end up being drawn into a three-way nuclear war with North Korea and Japan. There’s logic to that, but is a logical analysis the best way to approach North Korea’s thinking? Japanese nukes might cause them to flip out and attack; alternatively (or additionally), it might be seen by China as such a provocation by the U.S. and its client state that they’d look to retaliate against Taiwan. At a bare minimum, Sino-American relations would deteriorate. Exit question: Nukes or no nukes? Click the image to watch.
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Yep, I agree. And not only Japan, but South Korea. That is the only way to get China to reign in North Korea. It might be too late, but that is the only stick left.
ladyingray on May 26, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Somebody has to man up, please anybody!
Cindy Munford on May 26, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Nukes. Anime nukes. Shiny ones.
Grafted on May 26, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Japan will do what`s in their best interests, doesn`t matter what we say to them. Besides, Barry would most likely give up more of our nukes.
ThePrez on May 26, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Charles is right.
Jolted Joe Biden thanks him for the sage advice:
“Stand up, Chuck! Oh, what am I sayin’? You’re makin’ us stand up for ya!”
jgapinoy on May 26, 2009 at 9:06 PM
If Krauthammer weren’t in a wheelchair, perhaps he could go to Japan and Korea, and then, maybe, he wouldn’t be spouting such warmongering thoughts.
(Just channeling my inner Joe Klein.)
notropis on May 26, 2009 at 9:08 PM
If I were Japan, I wouldn’t be putting much faith in America’s nuclear umbrella these days.
myrenovations on May 26, 2009 at 9:08 PM
Good job, China! You could have stopped this by telling the Norks that you would cut off the rail links if they didn’t stop. Now you can enjoy the Northeast Asia nuclear arms race…
Realist on May 26, 2009 at 9:08 PM
Another reason why China is trying to reign in NK: Should NK go completely whack, China will have to deal with refugees streaming across its border.
kurtzz3 on May 26, 2009 at 9:10 PM
Don’t forget who is in the WH.
artist on May 26, 2009 at 9:10 PM
Japan has the right defend itself. If the Japanese ever get to the point where they need nukes, it’s time to turn NK into slag. It wouldn’t be genocide, because, after all, there is all of South Korea left.
I note that the Japanese have the same Standard Missiles and the same Aegis systems we have, and that gives them intercept capabilities with very little rework. That the Japanese haven’t intercepted an NK missile launched over the Home Islands is, I think, proof of immense forebearance on the part of the Japanese. Imagine how the NK’s would act if an identical Japanese missile arced over their portion of the Korean peninsula…
It’s sounding like the Japanese are reaching the end of their patience. Good. Good. Feel the anger…
unclesmrgol on May 26, 2009 at 9:11 PM
And considering the One dissed them by appointing a big money Dem contributor who knows little if anything about Japan as ambassador, and China got the Mandarin-speaker who lived in China, I’d think Japan will do what it is in its best interests.
Wethal on May 26, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Give Japan nukes. Its about time but I don’t see this administration doing that. I don’t know if Aussies would like to have nukes on their island but I think they are better candidates than S.Korea. Anyway fit these both allies with lot of firepower as well.
Many in S.Korea plotted for diplomacy during the Bush regime and set back the ngeotiations and the pressure which the treasury and Bolton and others managed to drum up. So, I wouldn’t be trusting them implicitly.
promachus on May 26, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Why not just bomb China into oblivion instead?
SouthernGent on May 26, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Interesting idea, but it might start another cold war of proliferation. I have never been real keen on the idea of voluntarily adding to the nuke club. But there have been times in the past where it has made sense. I just don’t know if this is one of them.
conservnut on May 26, 2009 at 9:12 PM
That’s a decision for Japan, not us. They aren’t a client state, they’re an ally.
The parallels with Israel are becoming more evident. Both countries are threatened by nutjobs and world powers alike, and both have reason not to trust the US
JiangxiDad on May 26, 2009 at 9:13 PM
Help arm Japan, and load up Australia and New Zealand for good measure.
jimmy2shoes on May 26, 2009 at 9:13 PM
Japan, from enemy to our only hope in 64 years. Who would have thought.
Charles is 100% correct. When he’s right he is REALLY right.
portlandon on May 26, 2009 at 9:14 PM
Would Japan even take nukes?
conservnut on May 26, 2009 at 9:14 PM
Maybe the U.S. should conduct their own nuke test….In North Korea.
NeoKong on May 26, 2009 at 9:14 PM
US power is in steep decline. Our allies are realizing this and are getting the message that if they want to keep their way of life, they are on their own. This is being seriously over-analyzed in this post. The Japanese, like Australia, are going to get the message soon enough. I wish them well and hope we don’t lose all credibility by the time we dump this administration…it will be very difficult, because our Idiot In Chief has already seriously weakening the US as a world power in just 5 months…4 years later, we may no longer matter at all.
AUINSC on May 26, 2009 at 9:14 PM
promachus on May 26, 2009 at 9:12 PM
I’m not, but as my son is stationed in that country, I have a vested interest in his safety…and his ability to get out of SK safely if need be.
ladyingray on May 26, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Why are we talking about “giving” nukes to Japan, or “allowing” Japan to build them?
Japan has peaceful nuclear power – nuclear bombs should not be much of a stretch for ‘em; a crash bomb program shouldn’t take more than a couple months, and could be done almost completely off-radar, until the test detonation. If they want the bomb, that is.
The Japanese may figure that presenting a smaller threat is safer at this time.
They could also figure that the best site for the test detonation is Pyongyang…
Mew
acat on May 26, 2009 at 9:16 PM
We’ve kept our end of the bargain. No American ally in East Asia has developed a nuclear weapons arsenal. The same can’t be said for China and Russia. They haven’t done what they have to do to keep North Korea from being a nuclear state. I think it’s time that Japan got nukes to pressure China. Maybe South Korea and Australia too. You can’t be afraid of antagonizing China. If you are, then it is a foregone conclusion that North Korea will one day have missiles tipped with nukes. The only thing standing in the way is that The Messiah is depending on China to finance his remaking of American society.
Mark1971 on May 26, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Maybe help South Korea get nukes ?
William Amos on May 26, 2009 at 9:18 PM
It`s becoming more and more likely I think.
Cause I got crap to buy at Wal-Mart! lol
ThePrez on May 26, 2009 at 9:19 PM
I hope the Japs make their nukes look like giant Bakugan; my boy would go apeshiit.
Bishop on May 26, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Tie it into an episode of CatShitOne, only the cats are NK fascists. Dub Packy’s voice with some old Toshiro Mifune stuff. Packy could rescue some hot swedish sexslave from Kim’s harem right before the new Jap nuke hits Pyongyang.
It would be better than the boring cr*p on TV nowadays.
Sapwolf on May 26, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Heh heh heh, and Japan only has about 9000 tons of Plutonium on hand because as the worlds second largest user of nuclear power Japan’s 63 nuclear reactors have over the last 39 years put out a whole he11 of a lot of spent fuel, which they reprocess and the waste product of reprocessing spent fuel is…. Plutonium…….
doriangrey on May 26, 2009 at 9:21 PM
We could paint the raising sun on a Noo-que-ler armed sub and lease it to them for the summer.
TheSitRep on May 26, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Scratch summer and replace that with 15 minutes.
he he
TheSitRep on May 26, 2009 at 9:22 PM
They don’t want to be labeled with that term. Please call them Japanese.
jgapinoy on May 26, 2009 at 9:22 PM
I finnally see where Obama got his ideas from
William Amos on May 26, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Just the man I have been looking for. Aren’t you in Raleigh or near it?
Cindy Munford on May 26, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Nuke up, Japan. Violent death or the imminent threat thereof is the only thing that pint-sized communist crackpot understands. Our civilian leadership is utterly incompetent and spineless; make your plans around the assumption that the West will not be there to help you in time of need.
Dark-Star on May 26, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Good question.
Perhaps the CIA will knock my door down for this, but what the hell.
My dad is in the opinion that they already have had nukes for some time. Why does he say this? He was stationed in S. Korea and at the time, they had equipment designed to train personnel in handling nukes.
My dad is also of the opinion that the US Armed forces wouldn’t train people for stuff they won’t possibly do.
Chaz706 on May 26, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Personally, I think that Japan has nukes but just isn’t going to talk about them until they really, really have to. And, if I am wrong they could build them within less than a week or two with parts that they have on the shelf.
I would like for the problem of North Korea solved in my life time.
SC.Charlie on May 26, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Japan could build a nuke in a heartbeat if they wanted to. They would also need to change their constitution.
They’ll do what they want to do, but I am bothered by President Obama’s slow abandonment of our great ally.
MayBee on May 26, 2009 at 9:26 PM
You know, that’s a very fair and intelligent point.
But this administration will be more submissive towards China than the last one. It’s full of realists in allaince with progressives and neither are likely to take a strong stance against China and there are conservatives (paleo/neo) to check them and plead even for trust but verify policy. The realists are clients of big powers and I suspect the reason why Robert Gates is so furiously dismantling US military capability is to make sure US doesn’t stand a chance to harm China. He’s an extreme realist and it’s total capitulation time.
promachus on May 26, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if we lived in a world where……….
Only China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and Afghanistan had nuclear weapons…………..
……….. and the rest of us lived our lives cowering in fear, toiling for the pleasure and abuses of our new overlords,
…………… after they have used them?
Seven Percent Solution on May 26, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Yep, China will counter move with Taiwan.
And our response will be…?
Missile shield for Taiwan?
We don’t have a lot of chips in this friggin game right now.
And we still need China to help us with Iran.
Not to mention $1 trillion in T-bills.
SteveMG on May 26, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Who the heck is Mr. Purple and why is he calling for Allah to be fired on every thread?
Cindy Munford on May 26, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Raleigh
SouthernGent on May 26, 2009 at 9:31 PM
I meant there are no conservatives left.
promachus on May 26, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Japan should arm itself to sufficiently defend itself and to hell with Obama if he tries to tell them otherwise.
Yakko77 on May 26, 2009 at 9:31 PM
I am bothered by President Obama’s slow abandonment of our great ally.
MayBee on May 26, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Which one?
artist on May 26, 2009 at 9:33 PM
When I saw the repeated postings, I thought it might be an alias for nice343, doing some sort of protest over her banning.
myrenovations on May 26, 2009 at 9:33 PM
A nuclear armed Japan will pose many problems, but those may be far less than a Japan without nuclear weapons. At this point, I have no confidence that the Obama would defend Japan or retaliate if Japan is attacked. For that matter, the same is true regarding any country, including the United States. Obama seems recklessly weak on national and international security.
Loxodonta on May 26, 2009 at 9:33 PM
They don’t want to be labeled with that term. Please call them Japanese.
jgapinoy on May 26, 2009 at 9:22 PM
How do you know? All of them? Why do you care? BTW, comment #8 referred to the North Koreans as “Norks”; you better go jump on that poster too.
Bishop on May 26, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Actually, what America needs to do is go into Pakistan and take all of their nukes from them. This is the heart of the major problem with nukes, today (a la AQ Khan) and taking Pakistan’s nukes from them would scare the living sh!t out of the rest of the savages working on their nukes. Short of some serious step such as this, there will be no resolution until nukes start going off around the world.
This is the only way out, not to start having everyone and his brother get nukes. Of course, The Precedent is more likely to unilaterally get rid of our nukes (selling them to Iran in order to get some money for health care for illegals, here, no doubt) but getting rid of Pakistan’s nukes is the only way to go, right now. A large scale attack on Iran would have as good an efect, but The Precedent is allied with Iran, so that’s definitely out of the question.
It’s tough having a decent foreign policy with a traitor in the White House.
progressoverpeace on May 26, 2009 at 9:34 PM
I was over at Instapundit, there is a post about an upcoming Tea Party in Raleigh and Mary Katherine Ham is going to be a guest speaker. I wasn’t sure if you knew or cared but I thought I would pass it on. I have already forgotten the date but you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the link if you are interested.
Cindy Munford on May 26, 2009 at 9:34 PM
I do not believe for one instant that North Korea does not have China’s permission to build atomic warheads and missiles. North Korea is very dependent on China and China could crush North Korea and depose Kim with the greatest of ease.
MB4 on May 26, 2009 at 9:35 PM
I thought it might be an alias for nice343, doing some sort of protest over her banning.
myrenovations on May 26, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Not a big fan of the ban, why did nice343/money2 get the boot?
Bishop on May 26, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Way OT but I just saw an ad for the following website on the Oxygen channel and now I’m laughing my a– off. Do people really believe this crap?
http://www.letsactnow.org/
txag92 on May 26, 2009 at 9:35 PM
What about the “higher pay, better equipment” gambit, it works wonders in Pakistan and Iraq they say.
BL@KBIRD on May 26, 2009 at 9:35 PM
My guess is that Mr. Putin won’t be too thrilled to see a nuclear Japan either.
Hmm, China helps us with North Korea, Putin helps us with Iran (a lost cause, probably) and we keep Tokyo under control.
Nah, the Obama Administration will settle for a UN demarche.
SteveMG on May 26, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Never fear salvation is here !
On my twitter feed. Robobama close to being activated.
http://twitter.com/WilliamAmos
The only place where Obama and TOTUS are combinded and working is in the Magic Kingdom.
William Amos on May 26, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Exactly..AllahP is in the weeds on this issue.
AUINSC on May 26, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Nice had gall to call Michelle Malkin a racist on her own blog and Allah booted him.
William Amos on May 26, 2009 at 9:37 PM
I’ve seen such posts before, but not today. Have they been deleted and the poster banned? Or, am I missing something?
Loxodonta on May 26, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Good stuff Chaz……….Chaz?…………..CHAZ?!
ThePrez on May 26, 2009 at 9:38 PM
In suspect we have numerous nuke subs in the region, each with numerous target in N.K. and a few pointed East and North of there for good measure…..just in case.
FireBlogger on May 26, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Why do you call him The Precedent? lol
promachus on May 26, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Thanks for that insight into the mind of the Dear Leader. But it’s very, very weird.
Loxodonta on May 26, 2009 at 9:39 PM
I agree. The US won’t protect them anymore. The only thing America will do is sick the UN on them.
Australia is ramping up their Navy because they don’t trust us. The American as Superpower is over. We gained superpower by detonating two Nukes and scaring the world. Now the world isn’t scared of us because they know we won’t do anything and we are weak.
Japan could have a larger nuclear arsenal than us in a couple of years if they wanted to. It’s time for us to let Japan remove its fully defensive military policy. They need nukes as a deterrent.
ThackerAgency on May 26, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Thank you.
SouthernGent on May 26, 2009 at 9:40 PM
I don’t buy this “Nork refugee” argument at all. When has China ever had problems dealing with masses of people the way they wanted? If China doesn’t want Nork refugees in CHina, you can bet your butt that not a single one will step across the border.
I find it almost laughable that China would be scared of peasants running through their borders. China has never feared any peasants and has never shown any compunctions about dealing with them in the harshest manner.
progressoverpeace on May 26, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Nice had gall to call Michelle Malkin a racist on her own blog and Allah booted him.
William Amos on May 26, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Ah, well I suppose that would probably do it.
Bishop on May 26, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Maybe…but even if they do, since the Norks and all of our enemies and allies are sure we won’t use them…they might as well not exist. A few more budget cuts from the defense budget to pay for Obamanomics and they won’t exist.
AUINSC on May 26, 2009 at 9:41 PM
I’ve seen it on two threads tonight, I don’t think it has anything to do with someone being banned. Allah seem to generate harsh feelings in some people. I don’t understand it myself. It’s probably just someone trying to draw attention to themselves.
Cindy Munford on May 26, 2009 at 9:42 PM
You havent seen anything till you read the Offical North Korean news reports. They are a treasure that only Saddam could outnutcase. I read both back in the day and they were both as mad as can be. Kim Il thinks he is a god and Saddam had veiws of serpents rising up out of babylon defending Iraq from the Yanqee invaders.
The idea of either having nukes is scary beyond belief.
William Amos on May 26, 2009 at 9:42 PM
A lot of people have been asking, lately. He was elected for a single reason, to be the first black President, to set a precedent. He had no other talents, skills, or experience. Therefore, since that is the only reason he was elected, to set a precedent, that is all he is, The Precedent.
progressoverpeace on May 26, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Hugonomics is a more accurate term.
promachus on May 26, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Well Greta just announced the North Korea launched yet another missile bare minutes ago.
doriangrey on May 26, 2009 at 9:44 PM
As near as I can tell, North Korea is China’s proxy, testing the waters on China’s behalf, to determine what the reaction will be. And Obama and the UN are behaving just as they would hope.
Loxodonta on May 26, 2009 at 9:44 PM
A few more budget cuts from the defense budget to pay for Obamanomics and they won’t exist.
AUINSC on May 26, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Or a refusal to fund the upkeep and rehab programs of the existing stockpile as Ogabe has already done.
Ogabe is determined to see us fade away as a real power, and our allies are taking matters into their own hands.
Bishop on May 26, 2009 at 9:45 PM
It’s time to set South Korea and Japan free.
Either that or tribute.
WisCon on May 26, 2009 at 9:45 PM
That`s what I`ve been thinking too. Remember Tianemen Square? (I know I`m spelling it wrong). They`ll mow down anybody.
Seriously, where`s Chaz706? :)
ThePrez on May 26, 2009 at 9:45 PM
And South Korea is stating that it will intercept any ship heading towards North Korea that contains nuclear, chemical, or biological materials. Looks like the $hit is hitting the fan….
doriangrey on May 26, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Because Obama’s idea of defending Japan is voting “present” on a UN resolution.
Daggett on May 26, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Sad thing is its the anniversay of that day this week. And Nancy P is in Bejing celebrating with the Chinese.
William Amos on May 26, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Thanks. I am clueless about why people do what they do.
Loxodonta on May 26, 2009 at 9:48 PM
I cannot believe that they would disregard a harshly worded memo that blatantly…
myrenovations on May 26, 2009 at 9:49 PM
First of all Krauthammer is right … as he normally is. He is the one guy … if he holds a different opinion than I do on something – then I recheck my opinion. Kraut is normally always right. And he’s right here but …
From my dealings with the Japanese people – they have deep scars over Hiroshima and Nagasaki – and anything nuclear disturbs them. For years, we kept aging CONVENTIONALLY POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIERS forward deployed in Japan because they would not allow a Nuclear Carrier. I guess due to the degrading situation on the Korean Peninsula – the Japanese finally allowed the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON to homeport in Yokosuka since Kitty Hawk was beyond service limitations and we had no other Conventional flat tops.
But George Washington didn’t arrive without controversy among the Japanese – who still feel uneasy around things nuclear.
I think it’s worth a shot – maybe – the Nork Nukes will put some fear into the Japanese and make them relook this.
And the fact that THEY CAN’T rely on our nuclear arsenal because Barack Obama controls it will push them down the road too.
But don’t count on the Obama administration being able to pull off any high-pressure move on China. This White House is so amateurish – their negotiating skills are limited to handing out chocolates with a smile. If that doesn’t do it – we’re sunk.
I think we’re sunk.
By the way … why the hell is Barack canceling missile defense in Alaska when the Nork’s will soon be able to nuke them? Outrageous.
HondaV65 on May 26, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Exactly. Or Tibet, or their own 1-child policy, or the way they move their own people around, …
I don’t know where this “China is scared of refugees” theme came from, but it struck me as silly the very first time I heard it.
progressoverpeace on May 26, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Biden was right, Obama would be challanged soon and at the time his actions won`t be seen as the right ones.
ThePrez on May 26, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Oh definitely! He ran that fast ball by everybody…He’s put the US on the fast track to unilateral nuclear disarmament at a time when the rest of the world is arming up…almost nobody (except our enemies) even noticed.
AUINSC on May 26, 2009 at 9:50 PM
There is another alternative to a nuclear Japan, and that is a regional task force whose mission is regime change in North Korea. Get rid of North Korea’s nukes and there is no reason for Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Philippines, etc. to want to go nuclear.
Basically what all this says is that we were bluffing when we told our allies that we would protect them and prevent nuclear proliferation. It pretty much makes anything else we have to say on the subject, well, a lot of hot air.
crosspatch on May 26, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Sort of like the Israelis waiting for Obama to take a tough stance against Iran ?
BTW Obama is going to Mecca the Islamic Disney world next week ?
Seems he wants the Arabs to take the lead on Iran.
William Amos on May 26, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Or saying “Oops” after Tokyo is incinerated. (Though he’d probably say it was because of GITMO, that got the Norks all riled up)
progressoverpeace on May 26, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Andy Taylor: There’s nothing to fear but fear itself.
Barney Fife: And that’s what I got, fear itself.
Beyond belief.
Loxodonta on May 26, 2009 at 9:51 PM
And I’m betting that they won’t be the right ones.
thomasaur on May 26, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Or better yet Is Obama giving all the GITMO players back to Saudi Arabia ?
William Amos on May 26, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Sorry, dorian. Plutonium in power reactor fuel builds up Pu-240 and Pu-242, which are resonance absorbers and useless for nuclear weapons.
Right_of_Attila on May 26, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Hmmmmm, only Muslims are allowed to visit Mecca…. What does that tell you…
doriangrey on May 26, 2009 at 9:52 PM
I cannot believe that they would disregard a harshly worded memo that blatantly…
myrenovations on May 26, 2009 at 9:49 PM
It was addressed to Kym Jong-Il; he got pissed at the misspelling and decided to launch another missile.
Bishop on May 26, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Well it doesnt say Mecca but its close enough.
William Amos on May 26, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Japan with nuclear weapons?
What could possibly go wrong?
Maybe I’ve watched too much of the history channel, but I’d prefer to keep WMD’s out of Japanese and German hands for the next thousand years or so.
Call me crazy. I’m sure it’d be fine.
Professor Blather on May 26, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Hmmmmm, only Muslims are allowed to visit Mecca…. What does that tell you…
doriangrey on May 26, 2009 at 9:52 PM
What the….Ogabe is going to Mecca? Impossible.
Bishop on May 26, 2009 at 9:56 PM
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