It is patently clear that, should the world's leading nations, including the United States, China and Russia, fail to agree to make North Korea abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, there would emerge a grave threat to international peace and security.
In so far as this crisis leads to further proliferation of nuclear weapons and raises the possibility of accidental nuclear wars, it is an international crisis of overriding importance, possibly equaling the rearmament of Germany in the 1930s, which eventually led to World War II.
Situated in the neighborhood of North Korea, Japan must muster courage and wisdom, and build a national consensus on how to deal with this crisis. Japan cannot afford to slumber in pseudo-peace while leaving this issue for other nations to resolve.