On October 8, 2006, the geopolitical realities of the Southeast Asia region changed forever. North Korea, despite the warnings of its neighbors, denoted a small nuclear bomb.
Not quite. There was a large detonation underground, but it wasn't nuclear. I'm not even sure why the world thinks it was. The only indicator of a nuclear test was 1 (singular) collection asset picked up a small trace of radiation over the ocean. Big whoop.
The important thing as far as N Korea is concerned is that the world thinks they tested a nuke.
US, with its current military operations, would have a difficult time honoring its security commitment with Japan.
We most certainly have the means and capacity to defend Japan, even given our current military obligations around the world.
The inability of the US to counter Chinese and North Korean ambitions also destabilizes the region by removing any semblance of balance in power.
Wait, what? Who says the US is unable to counter the Chinese and N Koreans? That's silly. Besides that, China won't risk the damage to its economy by doing something silly like attacking Japan, and it doesn't have the means to do so. Yeah, they have a million man Infantry, but their army is a bloated, hard-to-maneuver force even over land, not to mention crossing an ocean.
N Korea isn't a problem for Japan. They could attack S Korea if they really felt the need, but there's still plenty of US forces on Korea to at least act as a speed bump until US bombers from Diego Garcia get there and wipe out all of their conventional forces in a day. Keep in mind that N Korea is a regime that rules 98% of its people with an iron fist so that 2% can live in wealth. They spend most of their money on their military. There's nothing to the country but a military. If they attack S Korea, they leave their entire country open not only to attack from other countries, but their population could rise up and overthrow their regime in the military's absence.
This power is generally defined in terms of military capabilities, not in terms of cultural or economic power.
True, but the 2 biggest economies in the world are the US's and China's economies, and the rest of the world revolves around that. China isn't going to risk its economy with something as silly as nuking Japan.
[qs] The US cannot be included, for although it has an Army division in South Korea, it is unable to use its full might against either nation.
[qs]
Bullcrap we are unable. We (US Military) are there as a detterent, both by the forces we have on the ground, and the power we can bring to bear if the need arises.
News Media: Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory 1 negative report at a time.
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