北朝鮮―強まる一方の中国頼み

2011/06/01
--The Asahi Shimbun, May 31
EDITORIAL: China not the only country needed to push reforms in North Korea
北朝鮮―強まる一方の中国頼み

North Korea's close ties with China, its ally in the Korean War (1950-1953), have traditionally been described as "friendship cemented with blood." Now, however, it seems their relationship is based more on the practical needs of both sides than on their shared memories of the war.
　朝鮮戦争をともに戦い、「血で固めた友誼（ゆうぎ）」と伝統的に言われてきた北朝鮮と中国も、互いに利用し合う現実的な関係になっているようだ。

That may be the reason why the hug between North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and Chinese President Hu Jintao during their meeting in Beijing last week looked somewhat formal and distant.
　先週の北京での首脳会談で、金正日（キム・ジョンイル）総書記と胡錦濤（フー・チンタオ）国家主席が交わした抱擁がどこか儀礼的で、よそよそしく見えたのも、そのせいかもしれない。

Even so, North Korea is becoming more dependent on China, both economically and diplomatically.
　とはいえ、経済的にも外交面でも、北朝鮮の中国依存は強まるばかりだ。

Kim's latest visit to China is the third in about a year--unusual frequency.
今度の金総書記の訪中は、この約１年で３回目という異例の頻度である。

Since his previous visit to China, North Korea has shown its uranium enrichment facility to a U.S. expert and fired artillery at a South Korean island. These actions by Pyongyang have made the security situation in the Korean Peninsula even more serious.
　前回の訪中以降、北朝鮮はウラン濃縮施設を米国の専門家に見せ、韓国の島を砲撃し、事態はより深刻になっている。

If so, it is all the more important for China to use its clout with North Korea more forcefully to persuade the hermetically sealed regime in Pyongyang to behave in a way that will help break the diplomatic impasse over its nuclear program and other issues.
　ならば一層のこと、中国は北朝鮮への影響力を活用し、核問題など北朝鮮をめぐる膠着（こうちゃく）した状態を打開すべく、説得をもっと強めてもらいたい。

Explaining Kim's visit to China in his recent talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Beijing gave the North Korean leader an opportunity to learn how China has achieved its economic growth and use the knowledge for the sake of his own country.
　中国の温家宝（ウェン・チアパオ）首相は訪中について、李明博（イ・ミョンバク）・韓国大統領に対し「中国の発展ぶりを理解し、自国に活用する機会を与えるため」と説明した。

Wen's remarks indicate Chinese leaders are hoping to see North Korea start taking steps toward meaningful reforms so that the impoverished nation will not collapse and plunge into total chaos, thereby causing serious trouble to China.
北朝鮮が行き詰まって崩壊しないよう、つまりは中国も余計な迷惑を受けないよう、北朝鮮に改革へのカジを切ってほしいのだろう。

As if acting in accordance with Beijing's wishes, Kim inspected afresh economically advanced areas during his stay in China.
By doing so, Kim apparently wanted to secure China's strong support for his country's struggle to revive its dilapidated economy just as it is preparing for the centennial of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the late founder of the nation and father of its current leader.
　金総書記はそれに沿うかのように、改めて経済先進地を視察したが、来年の故金日成（キム・イルソン）主席生誕１００年の節目を控え、困窮する経済の再生へ、中国の強力な協力を求める目的があっただろう。

The 69-year-old Kim Jong Il's eight-day trip to China also demonstrated the recovery of his health.
６９歳の金総書記は８日間にわたる長旅をこなし、体調の回復ぶりも誇示した。

China accounts for most of North Korea's trade. Recently, China has embarked on development of North Korean islands close to their border and improvements of ports and roads in the isolated country. China has also been a vital supplier of food and energy to North Korea.
　北朝鮮の貿易の大半は中国が占める。最近、国境地域にある北朝鮮側の島の開発、港湾や道路の整備にも、中国は本格的に乗り出しつつある。食糧やエネルギーの支援でいえば、もともと中国の存在は不可欠だ。

No matter how much influence China may have on North Korea, other countries should not, of course, leave the efforts to extract changes from the regime totally in the hands of Beijing.
　もちろん、いかに中国の影響力があるからといって、それに任せるだけではいけない。

Japan, the United States, South Korea and Russia should make serious efforts of their own to pressure Pyongyang into taking steps forward.
日米韓やロシアも、北朝鮮を前に動かす知恵を絞らねばならない。

In order to break the diplomatic stalemate, North Korea should first begin to show a sincere attitude toward South Korea.
　行き詰まりからの脱却には、まず北朝鮮自身が韓国に対して誠実な対応を取る必要がある。

During his recent meeting with China's Hu, North Korea's Kim stressed the importance of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and an early resumption of the suspended six-nation talks over his country's nuclear ambitions.
He said his country is currently concentrating on economic development and needs a stable diplomatic environment.
　金総書記は今回の胡主席との会談で、「経済建設に集中している。安定した周辺環境が必要だ」と語り、朝鮮半島の非核化と６者協議の早期再開を主張した。

Regarding his country's soured relations with South Korea, Kim reportedly said he sincerely wished for improvement. It is good to hear him say so. We hope he will match his words with action.
悪化したままの韓国との関係も「改善を心から望む」と述べたという。その言やよし、実際の行動で示してほしい。

North Korea's litany of woes due to its seemingly permanent stagnation has serious implications for Japan.
　停滞感に覆われる北朝鮮だがひとごとではすまない。

In addition to the issues of the country's nuclear and missile programs and its past abductions of Japanese citizens, the fate of the regime itself has direct bearing on Japan's national security.
核とミサイル、拉致問題のみならず、体制の行方そのものが日本の安全保障に直結している。

We need to keep close watch on this neighbor.
注視を続けなくてはならない。