A Ringside Seat In Japan?

My upcoming trip to Japan a week from Saturday seems to be coming at an interesting time.

According to Yahoo! News:

INCHEON, South Korea – North and South Korea exchanged artillery fire Tuesday along their disputed frontier, raising tensions between the rivals to their highest level in more than a decade. The communist nation warned of more military strikes if the South encroaches on the maritime border by "even 0.001 millimeter."

The skirmish began when North Korea warned the South to halt military drills near their sea border, according to South Korean officials. When Seoul refused and began firing artillery into disputed waters — but away from the North Korean shore — the North retaliated by shelling the small island of Yeonpyeong, which houses South Korean military installations and a small civilian population.

Seoul responded by unleashing its own barrage from K-9 155mm self-propelled howitzers and scrambling fighter jets. Two South Korean marines were killed in the shelling that also injured 15 troops and three civilians.

Part of my trip to Japan includes an excursion of several days to Niigata (see map), which is on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu. The two Koreas and China are just across the Sea of Japan.

According to The Wall Street Journal:

TOKYO—North Korea's artillery attack on a South Korean island put the Japanese government on high alert, with Prime Minister Naoto Kan ordering his cabinet members to step up information-gathering and prepare for emergencies.

If things escalate between North and South Korea, I may end up with a ringside seat for the event.

The trip to Niigata may prove to be very interesting!