The Cove: Free dive into cultural antagonism...

Oscar-winning American documentary "The Cove" about a controversial dolphin hunt in a western Japanese town started screening in Japan on Saturday, despite protests that caused earlier screenings to be canceled. The film, is about the story of traditional dolphin catch in a little fishing village of Taiji, in the Wakayama Prefecture.

The documentary film, reinforced by extraordinary technological tools and under sea cameras, was originally scheduled to be screened at 26 theaters across Japan, from June 26. But was delayed due to criticisms of some Japanese nationalists and citizens groups who considered The Cove as being anti-Japanese and a propaganda made by the US producers.

According to media, theaters that planned to show the film in Tokyo and Osaka decided to cancel their screenings. Same decision was adopted in Okinawa on American military bases. Locals say it would add to an already tense antagonistic climate on the Japanese island.

In Taiji, people strongly objected to the documentary, which was mostly shot in the town with hidden cameras. Their claim is that the film is based on wrong information and infringes on individual rights because the people were filmed without their permission.

The filmmaker answer that what is at stake here is not a destabilization of locals' customs and gastronomic culture but the fact that the dolphins and those who eat them risk to increase the level of mercury in their organism.

The Japanese distributor, Unplugged Inc, said that four of the six theaters showing the film on Saturday were targets of street protests or intimidated. Of the four, two in Tokyo and Yokohama successfully applied for a court injunction against civic groups staging protests around the theaters.

"Several theater owners came forward and committed to show The Cove movie despite threats from extreme nationalists" writes on his Blog Ric O’Barry, Campaign Director of Save Japan Dolphin.

http://savejapandolphins.blogspot.com/

"... we also won a key injunction in a Yokohama court against the group protesting the film. Unfortunately, the extremists are again ramping up, employing their worst tactics to date..." http://bit.ly/9qhFcd

"We have repeatedly tried to engage our critics, inviting them to participate in open forums, but they refused. Rather than discuss the issues they employ highly aggressive bullying tactics to shut down the film. I personally believe they are being paid to protest and don’t really have a point of view. I don’t even think they care about Taiji. Their only goal is to keep people from knowing the truth, no matter what it takes..."

What about the media and Rick O'Barry?

"After the Asahi Newspaper (one of Japan’s largest) printed an opinion piece saying that they believed The Cove should be seen and discussed, the protestors came to their offices!" http://bit.ly/cifTwA

Only a handful of people in Taiji, a quiet town of 3,500, hunt dolphins, which are sold to aquariums or eaten. Although O'Barry has visited Taiji many times, the residents and fishermen have reaffirmed that they resent the movie as outside interference in their lifestyle.

O'Barry said scientific data show that dolphin meat has high levels of mercury, which could be toxic if consumed in large amounts, and urged people to stop eating it for health reasons. The activist would offer monetary help to anyone in Taiji and the surrounding region with symptoms of mercury-poisoning and promised to make sure they get tested. Mercury poisoning, which is extremely risky for fetuses, can cause tremors, numbness, mood swings and impaired movement in adults, and can be fatal.

The Japanese think O'Barry is attacking their tradition. He answers that all he wants is a dialogue, including helping Taiji fishermen find alternative ways of making a living. He apologized if the secret filming tactics of "The Cove" have offended some people. But he added "I make no apologies for my cause, many of my friends love the country of Japan, and they all ask the same question: Why do you need to slaughter dolphins?"

✍✍✍ One sure thing I do understand is that O'Barry has a "link" with dolphins since he trained the dolphins in the movie "Flipper"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flipper_(1964_TV_series)

"Ric O'Barry who later turned marine activist, stated that after production ended he watched the dolphin Kathy's suicide as he stated that he perceived she took her own life: "She was really depressed... You have to understand dolphins and whales are not air breathers like we are. Every breath they take is a conscious effort. They can end their life whenever. She swam into my arms and looked me right in the eye, took a breath and didn't take another one. I let her go and she sank straight down on her belly to the bottom of the tank." It is said on the dolphinproject.org that "Richard O'Barry has worked both sides of the dolphin street, the first 10 years with the dolphin captivity industry, the past 30 against them.""

This might explain why...

Sources: Reporters' notes

France surfing on Japan Pop Culture Wave

"I come to Japan Expo Paris since its beginning because I'm a fan of manga since childhood. It is the only time of year when you find yourself among people who have the same passion".

French Fan of Manga and cosplay.

The largest annual Japan Expo showcasing the country’s pop arts and subculture opened in a Paris suburb on Thursday, with up to 180,000 people expected to attend during its four-day run.

Morning Musume, a Japanese pop idol group, will give its first live performance at the event, which will also draw Tsukasa Hojo, writer and illustrator of City Hunter, a hardboiled manga cartoon series, and Hideo Kojima, creator of the popular Metal Gear Solid video game series, among other participants.

A performance in Tokyo featuring songs from well-known anime series will also be broadcast live at the event. The first Japan Expo was held by Japanese pop culture enthusiasts in France in 2000, with about 3,000 people attending. Since then, the event has grown in size, and now involves the governments of both Japan and France and firms in related industries.

Japanese Popular Culture is now a program for universities studies undergraduates in Tokyo, where they focus their academics on studies of Japanese popular culture.

Japanese officials sponsor the Paris fiesta

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) are collaborating together to participate in the Japan Expo Paris 2010, which will be held in Paris, France from July 1 to 4. The Japan Expo is one of the world’s largest international events celebrating Japanese pop culture, where over 160,000 young people interested in Japanese pop trends are expected to gather from all over the world. Various forms of modern Japanese culture including manga (comics), anime (animation), video games, music and fashion will be introduced there. There will also be some booths introducing Japanese sports such as a martial arts booth and a batting cage. To take the greatest advantage of this occasion where many young people who are interested in Japan are expected to gather, MOFA, the Agency for Cultural Affairs, METI and JTA will mutually collaborate to harness and lever Japan’s soft power through exhibitions." End of quotes of the very serious METI ministry.

Sources: agencies, Jp Times, knackes.com, www.meti.go.jp, Reporter's notes

Kan Naoto U-Turn: Japan to restart naval refueling mission in Indian ocean!

JMSDF refueling in Indian ocean

The government is considering re-deploying Maritime Self-Defense Force tankers to refuel foreign vessels engaged in anti-piracy operations in the Indian ocean and assist the operations off the horn of Africa and in Afghanistan. It has been confirmed, according to sources close to political and defense affairs, during the visit of a high official of Japan Defense ministry to the US.

Hatoyama had ended the unpopular refueling mission in the Indian Ocean designed to be part of Japan's contribution to the US-led war on terror in Afghanistan. In January he did fulfill his election campaign pledge to end the eight-year refueling mission, but outraged his supporters in Japan by offering $5 billion towards Afghan reconstruction to appease Washington, much to the consternation of his DPJ supporters.

The JSDF will be involved in dispatching military equipment and personal in the region according to sources. This will add a serious blow to the DPJ political pledges which were to take distance from assisting US and international military operations in the Indian ocean and in Afghanistan. It also marks a 180 degree rotation from previous political pledges from the Democratic Party of Japan of Prime Minister Naoto KAN not to get involved into military operations overseas.

Sources: Reporter's notes

5-3! Paraguay beats Japan on penalty lottery

"It was not just defeat it was also passion and the eyes wet. Yuichi Komano made a slow, sad walk through the mixed zone, looking as if he'd let a whole nation down while fans watched a man who gave and his team everything for two hours, then sees all that effort melt away in the instant that a round piece of plastic hurtles into a metal pipe."

Comments of the press in Japan are numerous to congratulate their team who made it to the 16: "Despite defeat in World Cup, Japan's soccer style taking shape" the Mainichi shimbun writes.

VDO: The PKs':

The 2010 World Cup round 16 soccer match between Paraguay and Japan was kicked off on yesterday, on June 29, 2010 at Loftus Versefeld Stadium, Pretoria.

In this match, Paraguay defeated Japan by 5-3. With this win, Paraguay secured their berth in quarter finals. Supporters in Tokyo were united in hoping that the only Asian side remaining in the tournament would reach the quarter-finals to become Japan's most successful World Cup side ever.

"Surprised the world; endured a grueling 120 minutes," the Asahi Shimbun headlined, praising a fighting Blue Samurai team who eventually lost 5-3 on penalties after 30 minutes of scoreless extra-time against Paraguay.

Substitute Oscar Cardozo scored the decisive spot-kick at the Loftus Versfeld stadium after Japan's Yuichi Komano had smashed his penalty against the crossbar. Yomiuri Shimbun declared that "bravery will be remembered", daring readers to dream "for four years' time" when the 2014 World Cup is staged in Brazil.

Television networks aired telephone interviews with Japanese players' proud mothers, emotional grandparents and former high-school coaches who watched the game in South Africa or at home in Japan. This time around, the Blue Samurai's strong showing surprised many at home and defied the low expectations of fans more familiar with Japan's previously timid performances. "Japan has finally begun its battle on the world stage," the Yomiuri said. "This experience surely will become the flesh and blood of Japanese football. It was a precious 120 minutes," according to the Asahi Shimbun. The performance prompted a fickle public to heap praise on head coach Takeshi Okada, who has gone from much-maligned zero to hero over the course of four football matches. Blogging sites such as Twitter turn red hot all night in Japan with tons of comments about the game.

Japanese TV stations were also upbeat about the Samurais, who many in the country had forecast to drop out of the first round before their unexpected victory against Cameroon in their opening match,then against Denmark in extraordinary game and magnificent 3 goals, including the 27 meters shoot of Endo scoring the second goal as a king of the field.

Sources: Asahi, Yomiuri, Mainichi, agencies, Reporter's notes.

Fifa World Cup 2010: Japan applauds National Team

Epoch Making

Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo showed their skill on set-pieces Thursday, each hammering home a masterful free kick in the first half as Takeshi Okada's Samurai Blue downed Denmark 3-1 at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.

Parties, celebrations, applause, Japan football fans nationwide threw early morning parties and celebrations Friday as Japan's national team qualified for the final 16 in the World Cup by defeating Denmark 3-1 in Thursday's match in South Africa.

For the Samurai Blue, it was their first time to advance to the last 16 since the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, thanks to French Coach Philippe Troussier. "We proved soccer is a team sport," Japan coach Okada said after the game. "We're not fighting individually. We're fighting as a team.

TV Record Rating for Fans watching the game

"The TV rating for the World Cup soccer match between Japan and Denmark reached 30.5 percent in the Kanto area on June 25, despite the telecast starting around 3 a.m. Japan time. With Japan's qualification for the final 16 in the World Cup at stake, ratings even climbed to 41.3 percent shortly before 5 a.m., when Japan held a 2-0 lead in the 25th minute of the second half, according to Video Research Ltd. While the company's daily rating coverage only runs until 5 a.m., the live program's ratings are likely to have soared higher beyond that time, as the Blue Samurai ended up defeating the Scandinavian powerhouse 3-1 before the match finished at around 5:21 a.m. The telecast, aired by Nippon Television Network (NTV), ended at 5:40 am." End of quotes.

My report for RTL France, in Paris as I saw Japan celebrating with heartfelt joy!

"Mondial 2010 : le Japon s'embrase pour son équipe nationale"

http://bit.ly/aI2Yqc

Sources: Agencies, Fifa, Yomiuri, Mainichi, Asahi, Reporter's notes

China and Japan life disrupted by record-level monsoon

In southern parts of southwestern Kyushu five municipal governments in Kagoshima Prefecture issued an evacuation advisory Monday and disrupted train services, affecting thousands of people. The Kagoshima prefectural government and local weather observatory warned of possible disasters from landslides. In the five days since Thursday the city had been inundated by the same amount of rain that usually falls in the whole of the annual rainy season. Trains and traffic interrupted, people moved out of their homes. Same in China, more heavy rain will hit southern China this week following severe flooding triggered be much as 2 feet of rain last week. A stream of water-laden air tied to the summer Monsoon will cross the southern China on its way from India to southern Japan. This stream will trigger widespread heavy rain in a broad swath from Yunnan east to Fujian and Zhejiang including hard-hit Guangdong and Guangxi.

And the Monsoon will cover the Japan main islands on Wednesday as seen on this forecast

Courtesy of the JMA

Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency, ANN, Reporter's Notes

Nobel Laureate Kenzaburo Oé says "Downsize Okinawa US bases"

Oé Kenzaburo at 1994 Literature Nobel price (R)

Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of the automatic ratification of the revised Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, without the approval of the House of Councillors, amid demonstrators surrounding the Diet building. More news here http://bit.ly/bfkWPz

Kenzaburo Oe, the 1994 Nobel laureate for literature, on Saturday called for reducing U.S. military bases in Okinawa Prefecture and establishing amicable ties with other nations, particularly with China and also with the United States, in accordance with the ideal of the pacifist Constitution.

Kenzaburo Oe, the 1994 Nobel laureate for literature, was speaking at a meeting of the (Constitution) Article 9 Association in Tokyo on June 19, 2010. The meeting was held on the 50th anniversary of the automatic enactment of the revised Japan-U.S. Security Treaty on June 19, 1960.

The Henoko dilemma

75% of the US military bases located in Japan are concentrated in Okinawa. 20% of the land of Okinawa is occupied for the US military bases. The U.S. Marine Corp Futenma Air Facility is in the middle of the city of Ginowan in the central part of Okinawa Island, it has a 2,800-meter runway, it occupies 480 hectares, or 24.5%, of Ginowan City. U.S. and Japanese governments, instead of removing the base from Okinawa altogether as activists expected from the Hatoyama administration, are planning to build a replacement for it offshore from the fishing town of Henoko, in Nago City in the northern part of the island.

As Japan Times wrote June 9th 2010 from Nago, Okinawa: "People in the Henoko district of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, have mixed feelings about the planned relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to their shores. They worry about noise pollution and the danger of accidents but at the same time keenly feel economic measures are necessary to revive the depopulated area's fortunes. They meanwhile expect little from new Prime Minister Nato Kan and his Cabinet, which replaced the Yukio Hatoyama administration that stepped down last week, smarting from a failed effort to resolve the base relocation row."

We went to Henoko and met many people who were born and grew up in Henoko and don't want to talk about the base issue because the subject divides community. Many oppose the relocation, saying the runway and construction would destroy the rich coastal beauty and wouldn't benefit Okinawaians' children and later generations.

The Futenma Marine Corps relocation issue remains high on the local and national political agenda for the Upper House July 11th election, this Henoko area is the stage for demonstrators and activists who "occupy" the beach nearby the Marines camp ands sometimes invite visitors off shore while the Japanese SDF controls the sea and the air making difficult such a report. But, actually and in spite of all the interdictions, 2 brave reporters could access the area.

VDO Henoko

Click the arrow to start

Deterrence

Among media attention on Okinawa for instance in the Japan Times who titles today with "Japanese ex-marine strives to debunk deterrence 'myth'. " Quotes: "A Japanese man with the unusual background of having served in the U.S. Marine Corps is using his experience to vigorously campaign against the U.S. military presence in Okinawa. Kimitoshi Takanashi, 38, joined the marines in his 20s and once served in Okinawa during his four-year career in the U.S. military. The sharp-eyed man, sporting a Mohawk hairdo, has a muscular build that hardly looks like the body of a man nearing 40. On his right arm are tattooed the words, "KILL 'EM ALL." Here http://bit.ly/c8xaq4

Media buzz on Okinawa

In a commentary, the Stars and Stripes writes that a "Futenma fight could linger despite Japan's new prime minister." Quotes: "To many, the fight over Futenma feels like forever. The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of Marines in Okinawa. To date, 8,600 Marines are slated to move from Okinawa to Guam starting in 2014. For Japan, the real task involves helping Japan’s poorest and most politically expendable prefecture without weakening ties with the country’s protector, the United States. That remains daunting. “I don’t think Mr. Kan himself has a solution,” said Tetsuo Maeda, a military expert who teaches at Okinawa University. But there are longer-term plans that, some say, could appease Okinawa. Moving more U.S. training exercises on Okinawa to Japan Self-Defense Force bases would be a step in the right direction, many say. Reducing military flights, executing and promoting more joint security strategies, and publicly tackling other non-base security issues, like piracy concerns in international trading waters, could help.

National leaders should look to bolster the prefecture’s main industry, tourism, according to Toshiyuki Shikata, a professor at Teikyo University and retired Japan Ground Self-Defense Force lieutenant general. Lowering the federal sales tax for the prefecture, for example, would draw more visitors and help local residents, he said. The United States should consider more-inclusive basing options, such as sharing more bases with the Japanese, even moving some under the control of the Japan forces. Making the new base at Henoko a Self-Defense Forces air base might be easier for Okinawans to take, some said. “We should be thinking of how to have the host nation take the lead,” Smith said. “These kinds of identity questions will be more a part of the questions. This isn’t ‘Yankee, go home.’ It’s about recalculation and rebalancing the U.S. presence.” End of quotes.

Also a fresh reminder on the Futenma issue with the post on the excellent NBR forum thread about "the Futenma and the Media" by Rod Armstrong. Internet information free access http://bit.ly/c7ciuX

Quotes: " Professor Green, the former Bush Administration NSC Japan adviser, still thinks he can get the Japanese to implement Henoko. His scenario calls for the axing of another Japanese prime minister: Kan refuses to pass a special law overriding the Okinawan governor's refusal to implement Henoko, and the DPJ, free now of its SDP left-wingers, would support its "defense realists" led by Maehara as they split in disgust with Kan's pusillanimity and implement the Henoko project.

The first part of this loopy scenario has come to pass: Mr. Kan announced that he has no intention of submitting a special law overriding a Governor's rejection of the project. But Mr. Maehara seems to have preserved his equanimity. Although it is possible that he is seething with repressed anger at his party's failure to assist the Americans, I think Mr. Maehara is a more canny politician than that. In any case, he would not have the votes to take over the DPJ, and the mind boggles at the number of alliances and combinations he would have to make to try to fashion a new opposition party out of the disparate pieces of the LDP...

... Both Professor Berger and Dr Sheila Smith talk about the need for the Japanese public to be educated about the US-Japan security relationship. I am with Mr. Wen-Ling Chang when he suggests that this is putting the cart before the horse. The US cannot just parrot the sales pitches of the American military-industrial complex to a supposedly waiting and receptive Japanese public. I talk to ordinary Japanese every day, and there is no question but that they are confused about who it is that defends them against North Korea--i.e., the South Koreans. Sad to say, some of that willful ignorance grows out of Japanese prejudice against the Koreans. From the Pentagon perspective, however, the Japanese public's confusion is a big help---as with the Futenma issue---and it is doubtful if a public debate in Japan that might reveal the true situation to the Japanese public is desired." End of quotes.

Time "Rethinking the Pacific?" as the New York Times wrote December 10, 2009 http://nyti.ms/cu5npc

"It is natural for America’s attention to be focused on the cost in blood and money of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But a more permanent security issue is the U.S. presence in the Western Pacific, where America provides a security umbrella under which Japan, South Korea and others have prospered. Access to U.S. markets has been a part of this arrangement, playing a key role in China’s rise.

Given America’s budgetary problems, massive trade deficits and unemployment problems will it be long before the U.S. public begins to question policies, entrenched since the 1950s, of providing both military security and market access for this region?

Can the United States afford keeping 50,000 service personnel in Japan and another 28,000 in Korea? Can South Korea not defend itself, at least against conventional attack, from an impoverished North? For how long will Japan be allowed to hide behind a U.S. nuclear shield while proclaiming its opposition to nuclear weapons? Should the United States take risks to defend Taiwan, which shows scant interest in spending on its own defense?"

Approved?

Moving more U.S. military training on Okinawa to Japan Self-Defense Force bases would be a step in the right direction

Sources: Yomiuri shimbun, The Japan Times, Stars and Stripes, NY Times, NBR, agencies, Reporter's Notes.

Alive! Japanese reporter Tsuneoka confirmed captive of Talibans

Kosuke TSUNEOKA, journalist hostage in Kunduz province

Taliban militants have demanded that the Afghan government pay a ransom for a Japanese journalist who went missing in late March in northern Afghanistan. Negotiations are under way on a payment of several hundred thousand dollars for the release of Kosuke Tsuneoka, 40, according to Afghan security authorities. our colleague journalist being held captive after going missing in Afghanistan at the end of March. He has spoken to the Japanese daily, the Mainichi Shimbun in an interview, saying he is in good health.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, acknowledged that 40-year-old Kosuke Tsuneoka had been abducted and was being held captive by a regional Taliban organization, which allowed the journalist to participate in a telephone interview.

"I'm in good health and I have no injuries," the freelance journalist said during the interview, which lasted for about 30 minutes. At times a man believed to be watching over Tsuneoka could be heard making what were believed to be orders.

Tsuneoka spoke in a settled tone. He said he was being confined in a room about the size of six tatami mats at a home with a courtyard. In the room, men armed with guns watched over him 24 hours a day. His only daily food was naan bread and one bowl of potato soup, but he said, "I haven't been ill in the stomach and I haven't been violently treated."

The organization that abducted Tsuneoka is an armed faction situated in Kunduz Province near the border with Tajikistan.

"It has about 100 people and it is the first time for it to carry out an abduction," Tsuneoka said. He said the place where he was being held was "in a place southeast" of the town of Imam Sahib.

Tsuneoka said he heard during conversations with members of the group that abducted him that the group was seeking 1 million dollars as a new condition for his release. However, he said that if officials gave in to the request the same sort of incident would be repeated.

The journalist situation has been a focus today at the FCCJ in Tokyo during a press conference with a Japanese politician, leader of a small conservative group. Takeo Hiranuma called for all efforts to be made for the liberation of this Japanese journalist citizen.

"Ex president Clinton went to North Korea to liberate two American hostages" Hiranuma stated.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who arrived in Japan on Wednesday for a five-day official visit, is said to have already instructed the authorities to speed up the release negotiations. According to the authorities, based on the negotiations conducted so far, Tsuneoka's life does not appear to be in danger. The authorities said that the Japanese government had been conducting the release negotiations through the Japanese Embassy in Kabul.

However, after the negotiations stalled due to a Taliban demand that a Taliban militant being held in neighboring Pakistan be released, the Afghan government took over in negotiating with the militants. The negotiations are being conducted by telephone, according to the authorities. The Japanese Embassy said it could not comment on the matter. In Tokyo, the Japanese government refused to make specific comments, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku telling reporters that Tokyo has yet to confirm the journalist was kidnapped...

There are 2 other known hostages in Afghanistan: two France 3 Television reporters. Afghan leaders called for release of journalists held hostages http://bit.ly/cpV9mC

At least 15 journalists were kidnapped by criminal groups or insurgents last year in Afghanistan. A total of 19 journalists have been killed in Afghanistan since 11 September 2001. Eleven of them were foreign. Five of them, including radio journalist Zakia Zaki, murdered 3 years ago, on 6 June 2007, were women.

Quotes: The Mainichi Shimbun http://bit.ly/9MZaJv

agencies, reporter's notes.

Amnesty for Thai Red Shirts?

Red shirt supporters gather outside the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road to try to block a bus from taking eight red shirt leaders and three security guards charged with terrorism to the Bangkok Remand Prison for further detention after they were denied bail on Tuesday.

A proposal to grant amnesty to Thai protesters who took part in recent anti-government rallies in violation of emergency rule is stirring controversy and highlighting the difficulty in reconciling a divided nation writes HS report today.

The proposal was made by Thailand's equivalent of the U.S. FBI, and followed a government call for reconciliation after the protests ended last month in riots, arson and clashes between soldiers and shadowy gunmen.

In all, 89 people were killed and about 2,000 wounded in the violence that raised fears for the stability and prospects for growth in Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy.

The red shirt protest movement is largely made up of rural and urban poor supporters of self-exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a former telecoms tycoon who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and later convicted of corruption.

Analysts say the government, which is opposed to Thaksin and his allies, has to tread carefully as it seeks to push ahead its reconciliation plan with any move being scrutinised and liable to criticism by one, or even both, sides. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said it was considering amnesty for rank-and-file protesters who violated the state of emergency imposed during the crisis.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said at the weekend there was no plan to negotiate with terrorists, adding: "But there is no plan to hunt down those who were peaceful."

Criminal Court on Tuesday denied bails for 11 red-shirts leaders charged with terrorism. Court said that the suspects could escape if they were granted bails.

Reporter's notes

Pop songs and Girls' bands♫♪: the new weapon launched towards North Korea!

Girl's Generation

"This is the new weapon against North Korea reported by the South Korean daily "Chosun Ilbo" who printed June 14th and without a laughter that the South Korean Defense Ministry is apparently minded to use songs and music videos by girl bands such as Girls' Generation, Wonder Girls, After School, Kara and 4 minute in psychological warfare against the DPRK.

Do not underestimate these Lolitas, they are the new Psy-Ops lethal secret weapon of the free world against Machiavelli's of Pyongyang!

An official in charge of psy-ops at the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, "It will take months to set up the big screens to use in psychological warfare operations and a wide range of contents will be shown. I don't know whether songs by girl groups will be included, but there is that chance since pop songs were used in the past." The JCS official said he is unsure how effective the work of girl bands will be. But the revealing outfits worn by the performers and their provocative dances could have a considerable impact on DPRK soldiers."

Maybe Yon-sama (Bae Yong Joon) will also be used as a tool to seduce the DPRK's mammies? But Imagine...♪♬♯♪ what if, in a poisoned scheme, North Koreans female commandos currently rehearsing fight back, cross the 38th parallel towards South Korea with the sole mission to kick ROK's boys?

Someone! Call a doctor!

Sources: Chosun Ilbo, Nautilus Institute at the University of San Francisco Center for the Pacific Rim, California, USA. Nautilus Institute at Seoul, ROK. Reporter's notes.