英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan should lead push for tough UNSC resolution on North Korea
対「北」独自制裁　厳格な安保理決議の先駆けに

It is important not to ignore the reckless actions repeatedly taken by North Korea and to swiftly implement tough sanctions against that country. Japan should play a leading role in a concerted effort by the international community.
　度重なる北朝鮮の暴挙を看過せず、厳しい制裁措置を迅速に発動することが重要である。国際社会の一致した取り組みを日本が主導したい。

The government held a meeting of the National Security Council on Wednesday, attended by its four ministers, and decided to revive and strengthen its unilateral sanctions against North Korea.
　政府は、国家安全保障会議（ＮＳＣ）の４大臣会合を開き、北朝鮮に対する独自制裁を復活・強化する方針を決めた。

Nuclear tests and the launch of long-range ballistic missiles by North Korea pose direct threats to Japan. It is a matter of course for Japan to have promptly taken harsh measures.
　北朝鮮の核実験と長距離弾道ミサイル発射は、日本にとって直接の脅威である。いち早く厳格な対応を取ったのは当然だ。

These measures include a ban on the reentry of senior officials of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) who have returned home to North Korea, and a ban on entry into Japanese ports by all vessels of North Korean registry, including those on humanitarian missions. All these measures were lifted when Pyongyang began in July 2014 its reinvestigation of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea or suspected to have been abducted.
　北朝鮮に帰国した在日本朝鮮人総連合会幹部の再入国を禁止する。人道目的を含むすべての北朝鮮籍船舶の入港を認めない。いずれも、２０１４年７月の日本人拉致被害者らの再調査開始時に解除した措置を復活するものだ。

Added to the reentry ban are engineers related to nuclear and missile technologies. The government has also gone so far as to ban, in principle, remittances to North Korea.
　さらに、再入国禁止の対象に核・ミサイル技術者を追加する。北朝鮮向けの送金については、「原則禁止」に踏み込んだ。

North Korea has postponed presenting to Japan the results of its reinvestigation into Japanese citizens abducted to that country or suspected to have been abducted. As long as Pyongyang continues making such insincere responses, it is reasonable for Japan to decide to revive and strengthen unilateral sanctions on North Korea, in line with the principle of “action for action.”
　北朝鮮は、拉致被害者らの再調査に関し、日本への報告を先送りしている。こうした不誠実な対応を重ねる以上、制裁を復活・強化するのは、「行動対行動」の原則に沿う妥当な判断と言える。

Don’t close doors

Actions taken by the North Korean regime under Kim Jong Un have become ever more uncertain.
　北朝鮮の金正恩政権の行動は、不確実性が高まっている。

The Foreign Ministry, the National Police Agency and other government organizations must cooperate closely to ensure the effectiveness of the sanctions. At the same time, the government needs to respond flexibly to North Korea, by not cutting off openings for dialogue, for instance.
　外務省や警察庁などが密接に協力し、制裁の実効性を確保しなければならない。一方で、北朝鮮との対話の窓口は閉ざさないなど、柔軟な対応が求められる。

The government must adhere to its policy of comprehensively resolving the issues of the Japanese abductees and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, and deal with them tenaciously.
　政府は、拉致と核・ミサイル問題を包括的に解決する方針を堅持し、粘り強く対処すべきだ。

Needless to say, Japan’s unilateral sanctions alone will only have a limited effect. It is necessary to hasten the establishment of an international coalition network committed to containing North Korea.
　無論、日本単独の制裁では、効果が限られる。国際的な対北包囲網の構築を急ぐ必要がある。

South Korea announced Wednesday that it would suspend operations at the joint industrial complex in Kaesong, North Korea, as a unilateral sanction. The move is aimed at reducing the foreign currency earned by Pyongyang, but suspending operations could risk losing a channel for dialogue with North Korea.
　韓国は、独自の制裁として南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業中断を発表した。外貨収入を減らす狙いがあるが、北朝鮮との対話の窓口を失うリスクも伴う。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held separate phone talks with U.S. President Barack Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye. They agreed to cooperate toward the early adoption of a resolution by the U.N. Security Council.
　安倍首相はオバマ米大統領、韓国の朴槿恵大統領と個別に電話会談した。国連安全保障理事会での制裁決議の早期採択に向けて、連携することで一致した。

The biggest stumbling block for the UNSC resolution is China’s reluctant posture.
　安保理決議の採択にとって、最大の障害は中国の消極姿勢だ。

China has been asserting that sanctions on North Korea should be limited to measures related to its nuclear and missile developments, and opposes sanctions that would affect the lives of the public.
　中国は、制裁の対象を核・ミサイル開発に関連するものに限定するよう主張し、国民生活に影響を与える措置には反対している。

Yet this conciliatory stance taken for many years by China has bolstered North Korea, letting Pyongyang conduct nuclear tests and missile launches repeatedly. This time, it is vital to strengthen real pressure on North Korea.
　だが、こうした長年の融和的な態度が北朝鮮を増長させ、再三の核実験やミサイル発射を許したのではないか。今回こそ、北朝鮮に対する実質的な圧力を強化することが欠かせない。

It is important for Japan, the United States and South Korea to unite to urge China to modify its stance.
　日米韓は結束し、中国に軌道修正を働きかけることが大切だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 11, 2016)