North Korea’s Containment Using All of the Power of Japan, the US and South Korea

Published in Nikkei
(Japan) on 23 September 2017
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Deborah Chapin. Edited by Elizabeth Cosgriff.
Can North Korea’s nuclear missiles be stopped by the power of diplomacy? Japan, the United States and South Korea took the opportunity during the United Nations General Assembly to urge each country to strengthen its sanctions against North Korea. In order to avoid the worst possible result, a military conflict, they must contain the crisis by increasing pressure. The unity of the international committee, including China and Russia, is in doubt.

On Sept. 21, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe conversed with President Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in for about one hour in New York.

Trump explained that he would create bold, new sanctions against the foreign financial institutions and businesses that make deals with North Korea. Japan and South Korea were highly appreciative. The three leaders agreed to the U.N. Security Council’s Sept. 11 resolution to strictly implement sanctions to pressure the relevant countries.

During his U.N. General Assembly speech, Prime Minister Abe used most of his time discussing the North Korea problem. He emphasized that the threat was of unprecedented urgency and that they need pressure, not dialogue.

However, North Korea has shown no sign of listening to the warnings that have been repeated. On Sept. 21, Kim Jong Un responded to Trump’s threat to totally destroy North Korea by declaring that it will seriously consider taking all-time, highest-level unyielding countermeasures.

North Korea’s foreign minister, Ri Yong Ho, told the press in New York that there might be a hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean.

The line of aggression cannot be allowed to extend any further. If North Korea does not cease development of nuclear missiles, severe sanctions that include an embargo on all oil should be considered. China and Russia, as standing members of the U.N. Security Council, are also responsible for protecting peace in the world. Japan, the U.S. and South Korea should use all their unified power to persuade the relevant countries.

North Korea is not only a problem in East Asia. If the firing of nuclear weapons is allowed, then the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which allows only the five major powers of the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China to possess nuclear weapons, will become meaningless.

If effective measures cannot be implemented concerning North Korea, which has recklessly and repeatedly violated international rules, then the very reason for the United Nations Security Council is in question.

Japan, the U.S. and South Korea need to share their sense of impending crisis widely with the member nations of the U.N., and initiate actions to contain North Korea. Considering the progress of the nuclear missile development, there is not much time left.


北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発を外交の力で止めることはできるのか。日米韓3カ国が国連総会の機会をとらえ、各国に北朝鮮への制裁強化を訴えている。軍事衝突という最悪の結果を避けるには、圧力を強めて危機を封じ込めるしか道はない。中国やロシアを含む国際社会の結束が問われている。

 安倍晋三首相は21日、トランプ米大統領、文在寅(ムン・ジェイン)韓国大統領とニューヨーク市内で約1時間会談した。

 トランプ氏は北朝鮮と取引のある外国の金融機関や企業を対象とする新たな独自制裁に踏み切ると説明し、日韓両国は高く評価。3首脳は国連安全保障理事会が11日に採択した制裁決議の厳格な履行に向けて、関係国に力強く働きかけていく方針で一致した。

 安倍首相はこれに先立つ20日の国連総会の一般討論演説でほとんどの時間を北朝鮮問題に割き、「脅威はかつてなく重大で差し迫ったものだ。必要なのは対話ではない。圧力だ」と強調した。

 だが北朝鮮は度重なる警告に耳を貸す気配がない。金正恩(キム・ジョンウン)委員長は21日、トランプ氏が国連演説で有事になれば北朝鮮を「完全に破壊する」と警告したのを受けて「史上最高の超強硬対応措置の断行を慎重に検討する」との声明を発表した。

 北朝鮮の李容浩(リ・ヨンホ)外相はニューヨークで記者団に「水爆実験を太平洋上ですることではないか」と語った。

 蛮行をこれ以上続けさせるわけにはいかない。北朝鮮が核・ミサイル開発を中止しない場合は、石油の全面禁輸を含めたさらに厳しい制裁を検討する必要がある。中ロ両国は安保理の常任理事国として世界の平和を守る責任がある。日米韓3カ国は一枚岩で関係国の説得に全力をあげるべきだ。

 北朝鮮問題は東アジアの局地的な脅威にとどまらない。核弾頭を積んだミサイルの実戦配備を許せば、米ロ英仏中の5大国にのみ核兵器保有を認める核不拡散体制はさらに有名無実化する。

 国際ルールに従わない暴挙を繰り返す北朝鮮に有効な手段がとれないのなら、国連安保理は存在意義を問われる。

 日米韓3カ国は国連の加盟国と危機感を広く共有し、北朝鮮を封じ込めるための行動を主導していく必要がある。核・ミサイル開発の進展度を踏まえれば、残された時間はあまりない。
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