英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun February 19, 2014
U.N. inquiry finds systematic state-sponsored crimes by N. Korea
国連人権委報告　認定された北朝鮮「国家犯罪」（2月19日付・読売社説）

The United Nations has issued a stern accusation of state crimes committed by North Korea, including abductions of Japanese nationals. The organization’s condemnation is likely to stoke strong international pressure on North Korea, and it will be important to use this international pressure as leverage to bring a resolution to the abduction issue.
　日本人拉致などの北朝鮮の国家犯罪に対する国連の厳しい告発である。北朝鮮には、強い国際的圧力となろう。
　その圧力をテコに、拉致問題の解決につなげていくことが肝要だ。

The U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has issued its report on the state of human rights in North Korea.
　北朝鮮の人権に関する国連調査委員会が報告書を公表した。

The report acknowledges “systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations” and concludes that these behaviors are “based on state policies.” The report finds that the violations constitute “crimes against humanity,” and the investigation panel recommends that the U.N. Security Council refer the domestic situation in North Korea to the International Criminal Court for action.
　報告書は、北朝鮮による「組織的で広範かつ深刻な人権侵害」の存在を認め、「国家政策に基づくもの」と断定した。これらが「人道に対する罪」にあたるとして、国際刑事裁判所に付託するよう国連安全保障理事会に勧告した。

The investigation panel was established by the U.N. Human Rights Council in March last year, the product of a unanimous vote. The panel’s denunciation of state-sponsored crimes by North Korea is of great significance. The international community should not stand as an impassive observer, watching historic and ongoing human rights violations in North Korea.
　昨年３月に国連人権理事会が全会一致で設置した専門家による調査委が、北朝鮮の国家ぐるみの犯罪を糾弾した意味は大きい。国際社会は、今なお続く北朝鮮の人権侵害を座視してはならない。

The report is based on a massive quantity of testimonies made by many protected victims, witnesses and government officials in various countries. The document provided the entire picture of human rights violations in the country in a comprehensive manner.
　報告書は、多数の被害者や目撃者、各国政府関係者らによる膨大な証言に基づいており、人権侵害の全体像を包括的に立証した。

It details the chilling reality of human rights violations including prison camps, arbitrary detention, torture, public executions, starvation as a policy implement, suppression of freedom and discrimination. The report points out, quite persuasively: “The gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a state that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world.”
　強制収容所、恣意(しい)的な拘束や拷問、公開処刑、政策に起因する飢餓、自由の抑圧や差別など人権侵害のおぞましい実態を詳述している。「これほどの人権侵害がまかり通る国は、現代では類を見ない」との指摘には説得力がある。

In particular, the report states unambiguously that abductions of foreign nationals including Japanese “were approved at the level of the Supreme Leader” under the three-generation dynastic regime of “Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un.” Michael Kirby, the inquiry panel’s chair, spoke of the possibility of examining the responsibility of Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, North Korea’s ruling party.
　特に、日本人を含む外国人拉致は「金日成―金正日―金正恩」の３代世襲の体制下、「最高指導者の承認」で実行されたと明記した。調査委員長は金正恩第１書記の責任を問う可能性にも言及した。

Seeking end to abduction issue

North Korea provided no cooperation at all to the inquiry panel. It reacted strongly against the report, saying that the country “categorically and totally rejects the report.” However, North Korea cannot expect improved relations with the international community, indispensable to the rebuilding of its economy, unless it reverses the current woeful state of human rights in the country.
　北朝鮮は調査委に一切、協力せず、今回の報告書にも「全面的に拒否する」と強く反発した。だが、人権状況を改めない限り、経済再建に不可欠な国際社会との関係改善は望むべくもあるまい。

North Korea must, for example, take very seriously the report’s recommendations calling for the disclosure of complete information on abduction victims and the immediate return of surviving abductees to their home countries.
　北朝鮮は、拉致被害者に関するすべての情報提供や、生存者の速やかな帰国などを求めた報告書の勧告を重く受け止めるべきだ。

The report demonstrated that the abduction issue is a problem not only for Japan, but also a matter of grave concern for the international community as a whole. The panel’s findings can also be seen as one fruit of the diplomatic policies of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who proactively engaged in the establishment of the inquiry panel.
　報告書は、拉致が日本だけの問題ではなく、国際社会の重大な懸念事項であることを示した。調査委設置に積極的に関わってきた安倍首相の外交成果でもある。

We hope the government will seize the opportunity presented by heightened international concern over North Korea’s human rights situation. It must urge North Korea to resume bilateral talks and do its best to realize the immediate return of all abduction victims, the hand-over of the perpetrators of the abductions and the uncovering of the full truth behind the abductions.
　政府は、国際的懸念の高まりを背景に政府間協議の再開を北朝鮮に促し、拉致被害者全員の即時帰国、真相究明、犯人引き渡しの実現に全力を挙げてもらいたい。

There is no end of defectors from North Korea who have been forcibly returned to the country after entering China, and there have been cases in which defectors living in China were abducted by North Korean agents as well.
　中国に入国後、強制送還される脱北者も後を絶たない。中国に居住する脱北者を北朝鮮の工作員が拉致する事件も起きている。

As a major power with influence over North Korea, China has a responsibility of its own to cooperate with the international community to improve the human rights situation in North Korea, including helping to resolve the abduction issue.
　北朝鮮に影響力を持つ大国として、中国には、拉致問題の解決を含めた北朝鮮の人権状況の改善に協力する責任がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 19, 2014)
（2014年2月19日01時39分 読売新聞）