社説：核安保サミット 日本の存在感がない

(Mainichi Japan) March 28, 2012
Editorial: Japan must take more active role in nuclear security
社説：核安保サミット　日本の存在感がない

Japan barely left an impression at the Nuclear Security Summit held in Seoul on March 26 and 27. This is despite a major debate on the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, as well as a lively exchange about North Korea's plans to launch a "satellite."
　なんとも日本の影が薄い国際会議になってしまった。ソウルで２６、２７の両日開かれた核安全保障サミットでは福島第１原発の事故が重要な討議課題になり、北朝鮮が予告した「衛星打ち上げ」（弾道ミサイル発射）をめぐって関係国の活発な意見交換も行われた。

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda arrived in Seoul on the night of the 26th and left less than 24 hours later. Perhaps distracted by the consumption tax issue back in Japan, he merely engaged in short "meetings" with other heads of state, including U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao. In contrast, Obama arrived in Seoul on the 25th, met with his South Korean, Chinese and Russian counterparts, visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone, and called on the North Korean administration to practice restraint.
　しかし、野田佳彦首相のソウル滞在は２６日夜から１日足らず。消費税増税の問題で頭がいっぱいだったのか、米中などの首脳と短い「懇談」をしただけで早々と韓国を後にした。２５日にソウルに着いたオバマ米大統領が韓中露などの首脳と会談し、北朝鮮との軍事境界線がある非武装地帯も視察して金正恩（キム・ジョンウン）政権に自制を呼びかけたのとは対照的だ。

This is not to say that a long visit is always better than a short one. However, one cannot help but have serious doubts about whether Noda was able to communicate Japan's concern over the threat North Korea poses with its nuclear program and missiles, and its renewed determination to implement anti-nuclear terrorism measures based on lessons from the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
　滞在が長ければいいというものではない。だが、野田首相は北朝鮮の核・ミサイルに対する日本の危機感や、原発事故を教訓として核テロ防止を図る日本の決意を、十分な存在感をもって世界に発信できたか、はなはだ疑問と言わざるを得ない。

The summit in Seoul was the second nuclear security meeting; the first took place in Washington D.C. in 2010. With over 50 countries and regions represented, its goal is to prevent nuclear substances from falling into the hands of terrorist organizations, and to protect nuclear power facilities from terrorist attacks. The disaster at the Fukushima plant, in which power was completely lost due to a massive quake and tsunami, was deemed a situation that could be caused by a terrorist attack, and added to the conference's list of major discussion topics.
　今回の核サミットは２０１０年のワシントン・サミットに続いて２回目で、５０を超える国・地域が参加した。核物質などがテロ組織の手に渡るのを防ぐとともに、原子力施設をテロから守るのが主な目的だ。地震と津波の後で全電源を喪失した福島第１原発の事故も、テロ行為で同じような状況を引き起こせるとして討議のテーマに加えられた。

In a speech addressed to the conference participants, Noda stated the importance of anticipating the unanticipated, and vowed that Japan would reinforce power supply systems at nuclear plants and protection against radiation; conduct joint drills among police, the Ground Self-Defense Force, the Japan Coast Guard and the Maritime Self-Defense Force; and strengthen measures against cyberattacks. And yet, the impression remained that his speech lacked depth.
　今後の対策として日本は「想定外を想定する」重要性を訴え、電源や放射線防護に関する装備増強、警察と陸上自衛隊、海上保安庁と海上自衛隊による共同訓練の実施、サイバー攻撃への対策などを表明したが、踏み込み不足の印象は否めない。

There's a theory that the kidnappings of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents were conducted in preparation for attacks on Japanese nuclear power plants. The chance of Japanese nuclear plants being attacked by North Korean missiles, or of Japanese nuclear plants near the Sea of Japan -- and therefore close to North Korea -- being commandeered by North Korea must be anticipated and prepared for. North Korea is a threat not only for its nuclear program and missiles, but as a possible instigator of nuclear terrorism.
　北朝鮮による日本人拉致は日本の原発攻撃への準備だったとの見方さえある。日本の原発が北朝鮮のミサイルに被弾する、あるいは日本海側の原発が乗っ取られるといった事態も、決して「想定外」ではない。核・ミサイルだけでなく核テロでも北朝鮮が脅威になっているのだ。

The Seoul Communique delivered at the closing ceremony of the nuclear summit stated that nuclear terrorism was "one of the most challenging threats to international security" and that in light of the Fukushima disaster, "sustained efforts are required" to ensure nuclear safety. The promotion of "nuclear forensics," used to determine the origin of nuclear materials, is another significant move mentioned in the statement.
　サミット閉幕時に発表されたソウル・コミュニケは、核テロを国際社会の「最大の脅威の一つ」と位置付け、福島第１原発事故を受けて原子力の安全保障に取り組む「持続的な努力」の必要性を訴えた。核物質などの出所を特定する「核鑑識」の推進も意義深い取り組みである。

For many Japanese, nuclear terrorism may feel like something that does not concern them. However, regardless of the cause, we have experienced the horrific outcome of a nuclear power facility that has become uncontrollable. It is our responsibility to share our experience with the international community, and to draw on it in preventing nuclear terrorism. The world is seeking Japan's active participation in preventing nuclear terrorism and establishing East Asian security.
　日本人にとって核テロはまだまだ現実感を伴わないかもしれないが、原因はどうあれ、私たちは原子力施設が制御不能に陥る恐ろしさを体験してきた。この体験を国際社会と共有し、恐るべき核テロの防止に役立てるべきだ。核テロでも、東アジアの安全保障でも、日本の積極的な関与が問われている。

毎日新聞　2012年3月28日　2時32分