The Death of Kim Jong-il Bruce Klingner The Morning Bell The Heritage Network North Korea’s official media announced that Kim Jong-il, the country’s long-time leader, died on Saturday of “physical and mental overwork.” Although Kim had several health problems, particularly after a stroke in August 2008, he had appeared vibrant in recent meetings. As such, [...]
Fukushima Crisis Shows Weakness in Japanese Crisis Management By Bruce Klingner The Heritage Foundation Initial assessments of Japan’s response to the 3/11 disasters were positive. Tokyo appeared to have responded quickly and efficiently to the combined earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear catastrophes. The government established an emergency response team headed by the prime minister, coordinated over [...]
Japan, Tokyo By Bruce Klingner The Heritage Foundation U.S. officials express greater optimism about Japanese stewardship under Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda than under his lackluster predecessors. The DPJ abandoned the naïve foreign and security policies of the Hatoyama administration after Chinese and North Korean belligerence underscored the wisdom of a strong alliance with the [...]
Japan’s Revolving Door at the Top By Bruce Klingner The Heritage Foundation Like a hapless baseball team forced to go to the bullpen for yet another relief pitcher, Japan has called up a new prime minister, its sixth in five years. Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda of the Democratic Party of Japan, or DPJ, is the [...]
The Case for Comprehensive Missile Defense in Asia By Bruce Klingner The Heritage Foundation Abstract: The United States and its allies are at risk of missile attack from a growing number of states and nonstate terrorist organizations. This growing threat is particularly clear in East Asia, where diplomacy has failed to stop North Korea from [...]
Talks about Talking Okay, but the Ball Is in Pyongyang’s Court By Bruce Klingner The Heritage Foundation Surprise meetings between North and South Korean nuclear negotiators this weekend and Washington’s subsequent invitation to Pyongyang for bilateral talks in New York are significant for their occurrence. However, it is premature to see them as a breakthrough [...]
Top 10 Reasons Why the U.S. Marines on Okinawa Are Essential to Peace and Security in the Pacific By Bruce Klingner The Heritage Foundation Abstract: Two factors have driven the debate over the planned U.S. military realignment in Japan: campaign pledges made by the Democratic Party of Japan and complaints from Okinawans about the presence [...]
Japan Risks Irrelevancy In Asia By Bruce Klingner The Heritage Foundation Japan’s international influence and relevance are diminishing due to a faltering economy, national indecisiveness, and constrained security policies. The current trajectory of Japan’s future is disheartening, with little reason for optimism of a change in course. This disturbing trend long predates the election of [...]
Proposed Re-Realignment for Northeast Asia Ignores Strategic Realities By Bruce Klingner The Heritage Foundation Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Carl Levin (D–MI), ranking member John McCain (R–AZ), and Senator Jim Webb (D–VA) have called on the United States to overhaul two complex military realignment agreements with South Korea and Japan. Their proposals would undermine years [...]
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