So how does Japan figure into this potential conflict?

[Heartstrings]

Really close proximity, we have numerous bases there, they're supposedly our allies....

7 year old Grandson's supposed to spend the summer there with relatives...have a huge pit in my stomach....

Any help to relieve that would be appreciated....

[randome]

1. Japan has a lot of unpleasant history with N Korea.

I think they'd rather pretend it wasn't there rather than confront them.

[Exilednight]

2. Not just North Korea, but South Korea too.

When the Koreas were united, Japan occupied them and raped their resources. As a whole, there is no love loss between the three.

[LexVegas]

3. Japan has a lot of unpleasant history with the rest of Asia. nt

[PearliePoo2]

4. Japan is definitely on young Kim's radar, that we know.

I totally understand your concern because no one knows is how this is going to play out. There are no good answers in any scenario.
For me personally, I would never go to Japan because of the on-going Fukushima nuclear meltdown disaster.
It's not getting much press recently, but there is no fix in sight for this out of control, radiation contamination.
They are trying to contain the massive amount of water that's flooding the destroyed nuclear plants, but they're out of space to build more tank farms and the contaminated water is going into the Pacific Ocean.
Eat seafood from Japan? Forget about it. In fact, I won't eat anything that is sourced from Japan, so I read all labels on food products carefully.

[Blue_Tires]

5. If a shooting war broke out, Japan would love nothing more

than to get balls deep up in Korea's ass... They have a loooooooooong history of animosity

[Lee-Lee]

6. The Japanese Self Defense Forces are highly competent and very well equipped

And they are equipped and networked deep with US forces to a point of being able to operate near seamlessly as a partner.

But past that, they have a unique and deep sense of honor as a warrior culture and also a deep lingering sense of almost shame stemming from the loss of WWII. That was the last time they fought, but the desire for redemption and restoration of honor still runs deep and wide within the JSDF, even if largely unspoken of you do get that vide from working alongside of them and if you get a chance to talk openly with their career military it will get spoken of.

I expect that in any fight with NK they will be ruthless and determined fighters in a fashion that will surprise most of the world.

[Exilednight]

7. For the same reason Israel doesn't help us with the Mideast, Japan

will be kept out of any conflict in the Koreas.

[LakeArenal]

8. Let the relatives come here to meet the grandson....

That is if dump will let them in....Or maybe let your grandson back in....

[Heartstrings]

10. I know right? He's got a US passport

So shouldn't have an issue but....

[Wounded Bear]

9. My brother lives there...

I share your concern.

[Heartstrings]

11. What are his thoughts?

The family we have there just poo-poo it as an ever present threat they just live with.

[Wounded Bear]

12. We don't chat much...

so I don't know. I'm pretty sure he's not real political. He lives up in the hills just outside of the Tokyo basin.

[Heartstrings]

13. My daughter in laws family lives

In Miazaki...way South of Tokyo on the East coast...just have to hope our leaders use their brains.