The point is that the Japanese have been building up an army and a nuclear since well before the North Koreans - theoretically - became a real threat. Also, if you want to talk history, just take a look at Japan's past and tell me how the Koreans and Chinese are not totally justified in mistrusting Japan. The US - and their Japanese lap dogs currently in control - are the number one threat in the region, not the Chinese or the Koreans. And, like James, I live in Japan...