Japan-US Foreign Minister’s Meeting: Do Not Be Soft on North Korean Recklessness

During a foreign policy meeting in the U.S. with Secretary of State Clinton, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba made clear that in the event that North Korea goes ahead and launches the long-range ballistic missile it claims to be a “satellite,” he would take the case to the Security Council as an “[obvious] violation of the UN Security Council resolutions.”

Japan and the United States’ alignment to further isolate North Korea comes ahead of the G8 Foreign Minister’s Meeting. This comes after Prime Ministers Yoshihiko Noda and David Cameron met on April 10, when the two expressed that North Korea will be “condemned in the strongest possible terms by the UN Security Council.” This is commendable.

While North Korea fuels its rockets in defiant preparation for launch, it is a matter of course that the international community will impose additional sanctions in the face of such an obvious violation. It is necessary for Japan, who faces the greatest threat from the missile launch to coordinate with the U.S., UK, and Korea in implementing strong sanctions.

North Korea plans on launching its missile between the 12th and 16th. To provide against contingencies, the government has deployed its missile defense system to Okinawa prefecture. In addition, it has established a response office at the Prime Minister’s residence to be thoroughly prepared. Missile defense will be coordinated by the Japan-U.S. bilateral operations center that was reestablished last month. This will be a test of Japan-U.S. cooperation.

Foreign Minister Maeda and Secretary Clinton expressed that they will cooperate with the members of the 6 Party Talks — namely China, South Korea, and Russia — to call for a halt to the missile launch. In addition, they made clear that if North Korea goes through with the launch, they will take appropriate actions with the UN Security Council.

The U.S. assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for April. This is the first missile crisis since President Obama’s announcement of an “Asia-Pacific Shift.” The response to North Korea will be an important test case for this new US strategy.

What’s worrisome is that, even if there is a new Security Council resolution condemning the launch, North Korea seems to be preparing for a third nuclear weapons test. There is also fear on the U.S. side regarding the launch’s effect on President Obama’s reelection campaign, as well as worries about a stoppage to U.S.-North Korean communication.

If North Korea’s blatant disregard for the Security Council resolution is left as is, the basis to rebuke the nuclear weapons test would also be lost. Efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear weapons and missile development would be for naught, and the Security Council would become powerless.

It is an obligation to the international community for Japan and the United States to work out these details to keep the situation from escalating any further.