Over the weekend Japan made an historic change in its governing- after over 50 years of virtually uninterrupted power, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was ousted by the most powerful political tool of all- a democratic vote. Changing a 5 decade ruling party is big- and so is North Korea sending a diplomatic delegation to China. Both are happening as this first week of September gets underway.

Created in the late 1990’s, the new Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has pledged to use cash handouts to citizens and a tightening of spending in other areas to help Japan get out of one of the worst national recessions in the world. Their national debt has grown to over 170% of their GDP, the highest ratio like that of any developing nation in the world. The yen grew stronger yesterday and is holding that position- an encouraging sign as most experts are saying that the DPJ victory is more about frustration with the LDP than faith in the new government. Whatever the reason, the new government party is in power.

Heading the new government will be Yukio Hatoyama, set to be voted in as Prime Minister in mid-September. After that, he will meet with Obama during Pittsburgh’s G20 summit later this month, his international diplomatic debut. Since 2007 when the DPJ took political control of the lower house in Japan they have been blocking unwanted bills by the LDP- now they have the top spot and the house, and as long as their alliances with other smaller parties hold, the time for change has come.

As it has for North Korea in regard to international relations. North Korea sending a delegation to China isn’t necessarily groundbreaking, as China remains North Korea’s only real powerful international ally, but it does indicate that North Korea is feeling the heat after new U.N. sanctions. The sanctions were in response to recent nuclear bomb tests and missile launches.

North Korea has been feeling the pressure of these sanctions and other measures lately- a shipment of weapons was seized on its way to Iran and their other shipping attempts are being closely monitored in foreign waters. Point being, they are launching nuclear weapons tests, dealing in shady weapons deals and walking out of any international nuclear negotiations. So now they are going to China, for what they claim are just standard visits around anniversaries. Perhaps.

What does China say they’ll be talking about? "The two sides will exchange views on bilateral ties and issues of common interest," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

Excellent political answer. They will talk about things they both want to talk about. Ok, thanks Jiang Yu.
But they will be talking. And the big story, in both of these, is that there are changes happening in the classic Asian political spectrum. Japan has new leadership- North Korean looks to be trying to interact with the outside world- China is taking an interest and leading role in the climate change debates and commitment-making leading up to Copenhagen. We’ll see what happens next.