And just when you thought the world was getting boring...

North Korea's recent missile testing (seven in total), combined with its unabated nuclear aims, has sparked some harsh criticism around the world.

In response, the Japanese are looking to shrug off their pacifist constitution, and have even considered allowing for pre-emption if they deem it necessary for self-defense. (Offensive military action is currently forbidden by the Japanese constitution, which is a main reason they are, in all effectiveness, an American protectorate.)

Meanwhile, South Korea is clearly upset about the whole ordeal--yet what alarms South Korea isn't the North's sabre-rattling, but rather Japan's "threatening" response.

China's pissed off as well. And given Japan's unwillingness to repent for their military atrocities in World War II (imagine how Europe would feel if Germany largely skipped over 1930-1945 in their textbooks), China remains the more popular power in the neighborhood.

Now, in a nice world, Japan would atone for their war crimes of 60+ years ago, and in exchange North Korea lays down their arms after the next round of talks and China stops building one of the most powerful armies in the world.

But that's not going to happen. So Japan is exploring their other options:

1. Proposing sanctions at the United Nations. They tried. Russia and China say nuh-uh.
2. Getting shot.

This may be an oversimplification, but the fact is that Japan resides in an area of expanding power and growing significance, and that's no place for a pacifist. That isn't to say they should immediately develop a world-class air force and kick the shit out of Kim Jung-il tomorrow, but they need to at least prepare themselves for an already shifting balance of power. And as Japan's strongest and closest ally, America should help them--starting with their image.

What America needs most in the Pacific is a strong yet popular Japan. We need the world to see a strong Japan as a good thing. Doesn't the world owe them some trust? Isn't two generations of peace and unparalleled charitable generosity worth anything?

Granted, anything Japan does to become stronger will, by definition, upset the Chinese--but perhaps there's a way to calm the fears of South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan and all our other Asian allies. So in the next ten years, what Tokyo needs is a double-dose of power politics and public relations.

After all, you can't spell "power" without PR.