Akki Hermitson's Media

Note: This was written by the bias grumpy old man in Japan.

Our nation readies for a war, as our congress overwhelmingly voted for the war. There are many political and economic benefits and problems which this war will cause. However, I am not here today to argue for the side of the war mongering “patriots” or pacifist “hippies.” Indeed I myself am bias. However, I would like to look back on the history of the relationship between our two little countries that is the root to yet another Korean Problem.

It is not surprising to say, that Japan is imperialist. We still control part of South Korea, Jeju, though it has grown more or less into an integral part of Japanese Main Island in the two years period since its addition. While there were many changes in administration and player demographics during this long two year period, one thing has not changed; our dealing with never ending Korean problems. To seek answer from the past, however, we must go back to Yamato Administration, in March to May of 2008, where the original invasion of South Korea had taken place.

I was not an eye witness of this first invasion. No, by the time I started erepublik, South Korea was integral part of Japan. However, I have heard tales from the ancients to understand this war. The war was fought to test the new war module which came out in beta. I have also learned that Administration of South Korea had asked to unite under Japanese flag; however, this is not confirmed fact. The net result of the war was ended in victory of better organized Japan over unorganized South Korea, despite them winning more battles. This led to the creation of this problem, which we may address now as Korean Problem.

I was told from the ancient players of Japan that months following the war were calm. In beta, there was no resistant war module, which could threaten Japan. I have come into existence in the August of 2008, which was about 2 month after the war. From what I recall, while there were some players who would write articles advocating for the freedom of South Korea, they were never more than 5 men strong. This caused the administration of Japan to ignore them, unless they had the “necessary number of people to sufficiently run a successful country.” This trend has continued for many administrations to come.

The true change to the Korean problem occurred in V1. The new feature which tore Japan apart was the implementation of Resistance War module. This made the freedom of South Korea not only possible, but likely. What made this event worse was the global economic turmoil with changes to economic module. There were shortage of labor and Raw materials. (In Beta, you didn’t need raw materials) Worse yet, since during the last two month of beta, war module was shut down due to the bug, our weapon market was dead. There were many problems and difficulties which were not immediately tackled by Japanese Administration, which caused our nation to stagger weak for first few month of V1.

The first crisis occurred during Antonio Fonti Administration. Three resistances in South Korea were opened by Argentineans conducting military training. Due to Antonio Fonti’s no military policy, Japan was not prepared. While there were many people, including congressmen, which advocated for the creation of Japanese Army, it was largely ignored. Even with this handicap, we were able to secure the region, but due to a bug we lost all three regions. Even worse, due to the stupidity of the President Antonio Fonti at the time, our Q5 Defense System Company (which had half complete Defense System) was built in Korean region that we lost. This was start of bitter relationship between two countries.

South Korea, at this time, enjoyed some prosperity and freedom from Japan since we lacked the gold needed to invade South Korea. At first, South Korea had successful independent democracy. However, it did not last. On the second month of its existence, South Korea was PTOed, leading to the creation of Totalitarian Regime controlled by The Party. The income, import and Value added taxes were pushed up to maximum in South Korea. However, they remained the ruler of South Korea since Japan itself was facing crisis of our own from Mafia, a PTO group from Iran, and world did not care enough for Korean affairs.

Change for South Korea occurred during my own Administration, as PTO supported by USA removed The Party from the power. Another democratic regime took over South Korea which tried to recover itself from the ruins of Totalitarian Government. Japan at this time was supportive of new South Korea as we gave aids to South Korea to feed the population and to help the new government. While positive relation started, this relation too was broken as the new South Korean president that followed started aggressive talk for the return of more lands. Quickly relation soured, as Japan ignored this request due to the fact they were already facing PTO every month.

The bold change to this relationship occurred during Kokawayoshi Administration as theKorean Problem became the integral part of our nation. Under President Kokawayoshi Makoto, Japan advanced far, economically, politically, and culturally. It was golden age of enlightenment in Japan, when we were more united than any other country in erepublik. During this time, Korea was merged into Japan to keep South Korea free of PTO. This had economic and political consequences to Japan, however, such as deflation, shortages, and question of the Korean voters. This decision to integrate South Korean into Japan back then is probably the reason why we still have ongoing Korean problem today.

The finale of our tale is something which many will still remember: the independence of South Korea which caused rise to Theocratic Government in South Korea. Due to many mishandlings by our president, Minamoto in the war against Theocratics, Japan suffered humiliation. For next few months, Theocrats ruled South Korea with Authoritarian Government. We also slowly shed away the South Korean territories from Beta during this period. While Theocrats eventually left due to the fact they got bored with South Korea, many of the same problems afflict South Korea today.

Failed government is not anarchy but there is no better word that could describe South Korea today than a failed state. South Korea is still to this day plagued with bad leaders, small divided population, and ongoing threats from PTO. In the past, South Korea was prey to Authoritarian or Totalitarian government; indeed to this day, similar patterns follow. History reveals us that South Korea has failed; not only once, but numerous time in its history.

Even though Japan lacks native players, like South Korea, we have maintained our independence. Never had there been any time in history of erepublik, where our sovereignty was threatened. Today, we stand at a cross road, for the future of Japan and South Korea. Our activity in Korean peninsula will surely have lasting affects for the future. Not only must we act, we must pen the future of Japan and Korean Peninsula if we plan to hold some permanence to the stability of Korean Peninsula. Whether the War or Peace is better, time alone can tell. However, whichever course of action we take, we must be responsible. I voted Yes to war for the destruction of Greatest Evil in South Korea, Alfagrem, but I hope that this war will not be taken lightly by our government. We will come up with permanent, not short sighted solution to this problem to stabilize ever unstable Korean Peninsula.