I will be travelling to Japan in three weeks time with my wife and our baby. Reading from the news, they are preparing the worst:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/panic-japan-amid-fea…
Can Ozbargainers who live in Japan shed some lights of how the current situation there is?
I used to live in Japan.
Japan and Korea have always had a "thing". especially with Nth Korea. part of it derives from historical factors - e.g. Japan occupation of Korea and China until 1945.
there has also been a lot of reported kidnappings of Japanese Nationals from Japan by North Korean agents.
Plus, since WWII and the dematerialization of Japan, Japan and it's economic rise to glory has been a threat to Nth Korea, as well as a soft target for Nth Korea. Japan isn't going to "strike back".
North Korea also can't threaten China - as China would destroy them in minutes also China does provide Nth Korea with aid. they can't attack South Korea - as South Korea has the support of the US, and has a very well supplied army.
and they can't head north to Vladisvostock (Russia) because they get aid from Russia. and we've seen what Russia will do to an enemy - e.g. syria.
North Korea is unique in that does very little external trade and only receives minimal aid from other countries. I'm going to Japan again in June.
Something to consider in regards to Japan is it's slow increase in military spending as well as increased public support of the armed forces (SDF - japan special defense force)
Part of this militarisation is to improve employment rates within Japan, as well bolster Japanese nationalism in the face of an aging population and very slow decline in industry.
Such an increase in the Japanese armed forces is a threat to North Koreas sense of power - in a "delusional" sense.
TL:DR,
it's safe. the situation is complex and the dailymail is sensationalist.
Just correcting you on few things, Japan an US has very strong ties as well.
Well, be fair, US kinda wants to reduce its spending. They have fair bit of miliatry presence in Japan as well, though the details of it is something I have little clues on. As far as I know that's one of the big reason why US is sitting on Japan lifting bans on retaliating on behalf of their friends on constitution, despite protests from South Korean government. Besides, Japan would've been able to strike back even before that. Their force is called "Self Defence Force" for a reason.
China and NK have always had a good relationship, even though China kinda sees them as their underlings (that doesn't bloody listen). They have as strong relationship as South Korea and US, I'd argue. US-South Korea relationship and China-North Korea relationship is refered to as the alliance forged from blood by the media in S. Korea. US soldiers died protecting S. Korea, Chinese soldiers (including Chairman Mao's son) died protecting N. Korea. Other than symbolic reasons, China seriously doesn't want US in its backyard i.e. their reaction to anti-ballistic missile (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system being installed in Korea.
The problem is, North Korea has always been very very unpredictable (one of their tactic). North Korea did bombard a South Korean island in 2010 with artilary weapons. They've also attacked South Korean military ships in Yellow Sea several times.
I guess the point I am making is, there is definitely a tension between NK and SK. While I do agree that the media exaggerates fair bit of info, but it doesn't necessarily mean they are making things out of thin air.
I'm aware of the Japan/US ties - I've visited several US bases in Japan.
Their force is called "Self Defence Force" for a reason.
Because article 9 of their constitution bans them (they banned themselves) from having an army.
of course there is tension between SK + NK.
NK is unpredictable.
What I was implying with that "Self Defence Force" comment was that they could retaliate. In other words, the sentence was implying why else would they call themselves Self Defence force?
Here is what I said:
"Besides, Japan would've been able to strike back even before that. Their force is called "Self Defence Force" for a reason."
Comment about the ties of US and Japan was to point out that Japan has the supports from US (which you've mentioned as one of the reasons why NK can't attack SK). So how is Japan a "soft target"?
What I was trying to imply with "North Korea has always been very very unpredictable" was more of, they completely ignore possible civilian casualties and and they would commit actions that are questionable. The bombardment of Yeonpyeong in 2010 had civilian casualties etc etc. Other one I probably should've mentioned was recent assassination of Kim Jung Nam in Kuala Lumpur Airport using a nerve agent.
So yeah, while I do think the media blow things out of proportion, in this case I don't think they don't do that out of thin air.
If it makes you feel any better, high tension between North Korea and South Korea (& its allies) have always been there ever since whenever there is an election. The presidential election is going on in South Korea (in a week, if I remember correctly). The high tension right now is probably because of the election, the exercises probably are just preparing for the worst possible case scenario.
I just came back from living in Japan, you'll hear about North Korea/Trump on TV all the time over there but otherwise it's business as usual.
I was flying into South Korea when North Korea started the missile test, it did make me feel slightly concerned, but nobody was panicking or anything there.
Why are you taking the news seriously? It's made up to sell advertising. You are worse off for having consumed it.
Very cautious rofl!
I wouldn't risk it with a small child. Fortunately, all mine are grown, so if you wanted to transfer tickets etc. to me, I will make sure they don't got to waste! </sarcasm>
Bear in mind Australia is also a target of North Korea. I am feeling pretty relaxed about that threat.
If this is anything to go off:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g9j_ZkuJig&ab_channel=Vox
then its unlikely that north korea will take any direct action against allied targets until they have a working nuclear MAD defence against the US, because they know that if they attack japan they are gonna have a real bad time, but if they can land a nuke on mainland US then the US will be very hesitant to attack them in defence of an allied nation, giving NK free reign to stir up whatever they want.
Just my uneducated 2c, but I personally would still feel safe in Japan.