But what these pompous Japanese do? They are making enemy out of only possible friend. F***ing idiots.

With China and Russia which are just counting days for American pullout so they can attack Japan, Japan is making enemies, instead of friends.

F***ing smart!

F***ing idiots who attacked America!

As Japan re-arm, America will leave Japan. As stupid Japanese nationalism re-flares and anti-Western and anti-American attitude reappear, the U.S. troops will vacate the island.

Then, the war with China will commence. And, as a result, many Japanese will die. Several nuke bombs(Chinese or Korean?) will be dropped and your cities will once again be obliterated.

The bottom line is that you guys are still dreaming about your glorious past which will never repeat. Like a LasVegas gambler who had won a Jackpot. However, you were just lucky in 1900-1940s. That doesn’t mean you will be lucky in 2000s.

China and Korea have modern weapons, too. How are you going to win? By your mental power? Japan will lose big time.

Penny wise and pound foolish. So, Japan won a small victory. So what? Do you want a medal?

As Japan makes enemy of Korean people, Korea will only drift toward Chinese side. Korea will become more-antiJapanese. Was this victory worth it?

Japan cannot see the big picture. In WWII, myopic Japan thought if they could destroy West Coast fleet, America could not fight back and Japan would win. What a stupid idea! America was much bigger than the West Coast Navy. Much much, much bigger.

Japan wants to enlarge its sea territories by redrawing lines. When China and Korea attack together, they will be no Japan. The stupid Japanese emperor will be killed and all Japanese will serve Chinese masters. This stupid lines on sea will be gone as the Chinese and Koreans rule over Japan.

Tamaki, have you thought about that?

Merits for Japan and SK’s “own goals”

1. Japan achieved it’s goal to prevent SK’s proposal for renaming basins.
2. This dispute has been becoming known among Japanese citizens (especially in the internet) and maybe through international society.
3. SK has showed lack of confidence against their claim against Takashima.
4. Japan has a chance for discussing about the EEZ in May.
5. Personaly I can’t believe Japan doesn’t have the data about the ocean floor because Japan operates fine subs and has experience confronting the subs of former USSR.
6. SK has informed the UN that it would refuse bringing disputes into the international court. What is SK going to do when they have problems with China and NK?

Demerits for Japan

1. Japan had the chance to make this problem a more serious one by making SK violate international law.
2. As Korea never cares about Japan’s public opinion and international society they may not obey the agreement.
3. Korea still can maintain its illegal occupation without sanctions from Japan.
4. Japan can’t investigate it’s EEZ at this moment.

It’s nice the agreement has avoided conflict among Japan and SK which are supposed to be friendly nations (when we have to confront China & NK). However, this has changed nothing about the present status. I feel it’s time Japan showing firm attitudes including legalizing the Self Defence Forces.

It was this line: “Koreans are making themselves laughing stocks in the eyes of the world.”

I see, so all 6 billion (minus 45,000) people are learning about this issue and laughing, thinking, “Oh, those crazy Koreans!”

If you read over all my comments on this thread carefully, you’ll see that I am trying to take a balanced position on the issue. The only solution that will work is one that both countries will accept.

I assume that you’re not directing the “hotheaded, chauvinistic Korean superpatriot” comment at me, since I am neither hotheaded, chauvinistic, Korean, nor a superpatriot.

genie201:

I agree with your point. In fact, I wrote this up above in acknowledgement of the point you made:

“(BTW, if illegal fishing has taken place—or fishing has been unfairly prevented—by either country against the other country, I don’t know if or how this would factor into any decision, but for all I know, it may be something that comes up.)”

Okay, I couched it in diplomatic terms by saying “one country against the other country,” but I understand what you’re saying, and I understand how Japanese fishermen might see this whole issue.

It’s the Korean government that is ignoring the agreement they signed. I don’t know how anyone can try to justify such a selfish behaviour. For the people in Shimane and Tottori who live closest to the fishing grounds, this is a crucial　fisheries and economic issue.

And I certainly don’t agree with a couple of trolls’ comments that international law is some sort of stick with which Japan can lord it over Korea, or that there’s some kind of homogeneous “international community” that automatically sides with Japan on this matter (I mean Hans Castorp on this thread and KimCity2000 on another thread)

Who said anything about an “international community”? Learn to read: I said Koreans are making themselves laughing stocks in the eyes of the world by their intemperate reactions to minor provocations over worthless rocks, and you transmogrify that into an irrelevant rant about claims of a “homogenous international community”.

As for me being a “troll”, if by that term what you mean is that I think it utterly stupid to make ludicrously belligerent statements towards a neighbor one has no real chance of defeating in warfare, and over such insignificant matters, even as one has nothing to say about far greater challenges to justice and decency occurring just over the DMZ, then yes, I’ll wear the label “troll” with pride; better to be such a troll than a hotheaded, chauvinistic Korean superpatriot so invested in piddling little rocks that he can’t think straight.