A Northeast Asia nuclear weapon free zone

Abstract

A subtle balance in public sentiment emerged in Japan about Northeast Asian regional security after a series of recent incidents related to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea). These incidents included the alleged construction of underground nuclear facilities, a surprise launch of a three‐staged Taepodong missile or satellite over Japanese territory in August 1998, and the intrusion of two allegedly North Korean spy boats into Japanese territorial waters in March 1999. On the one hand, more Japanese citizens are uncomfortable with the DPRK's unpredictable behavior and thus are increasingly susceptible to hardliner arguments in favor of strengthening Japan's military capabilities. On the other hand, many citizens have realized anew that Japan has virtually no diplomatic channels with the DPRK, one of its closest neighbors. That fact clearly indicates the diplomatic failure of successive Japanese administrations, a failure that must be redressed before all else.