Stepping into Japanese minefield.

(From The Korea Herald)

When President Roh Moo-hyun embarks on his first state visit to Tokyo today, he will be on a precarious mission to round out tripartite policy coordination with the United States and Japan on the North Korean nuclear crisis, among other important issues. Leaving the region's complicated politics, and the president's seemingly uncertain position aside, the Japanese government has cast a shadow over summit negotiations.

Though heavily symbolic, Roh's attendance at a dinner with Emperor Akihito this evening on Korean Memorial Day could generously be brushed aside as a simple protocol mishap. But it is truly regretful that officials in …