A Newsweek story that apparently misinterpreted the results of an opinion poll carried out by a Japanese news agency last week is creating a public stir.
A Newsweek story that apparently misinterpreted the results of an opinion poll carried out by a Japanese news agency last week is creating a public stir.
The headline of the story, published Nov. 18 on Newsweek’s website, concluded: “Japan wants war with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, not dialogue, new poll shows.” The Jiji Press survey in question, however, found that 53.9 percent of respondents support Japan and the United States using “pressure” to deal with North Korea, versus 39.4 percent who prefer dialogue. The survey didn’t ask any questions about war as an option. Domestically, “pressure” is usually interpreted as meaning economic sanctions and tough diplomacy. On Friday, a TV Asahi show described the Newsweek story as “shocking” and “a huge mistake.
