北ミサイル発射 安保理は制裁強化を決議せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 14, 2012)
UNSC should tighten sanctions on Pyongyang
北ミサイル発射　安保理は制裁強化を決議せよ（12月13日付・読売社説）

Ignoring international warnings, North Korea fired a long-range ballistic missile under the guise of launching what it claimed to be an observation satellite.
　北朝鮮が、「人工衛星打ち上げ」と称して、長距離弾道ミサイルの発射を強行した。

Once again, Pyongyang flouted without compunction U.N. resolutions that prohibit the country from engaging in any launching activities involving ballistic missile technology.
　発射を禁じた国連安全保障理事会の決議を再び愚弄する暴挙だ。

After North Korea's previous missile launch in April ended in failure, the U.N. Security Council issued a presidential statement warning it would "take action accordingly" in the event of another launch or a nuclear test.
　４月に北朝鮮の発射が失敗に終わった後、安保理は議長声明で、新たな発射や核実験には「相応の行動をとる」と警告していた。

We strongly urge the Security Council to swiftly adopt a resolution to tighten sanctions on North Korea.
速やかに北朝鮮に対する制裁措置の強化を決議すべきである。

The United States has imposed powerful financial sanctions on Iran, which have had a certain level of effect. We believe it is time to consider similar actions on North Korea.
　イランに対しては米国が強力な金融制裁を講じて一定の効果を上げている。北朝鮮にも同様の措置を検討する時ではないか。

China, a permanent Security Council member, must recognize the responsibility it bears in this matter. If China blocks a UNSC binding resolution, North Korea will do nothing to change its reckless behavior.
　安保理常任理事国の中国は責任を自覚すべきだ。中国の反対で拘束力ある決議が採択できぬようでは、北朝鮮は態度を改めまい。

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Pyongyang's true motive

North Korea hailed the missile launch as a success, saying it put a "satellite into orbit as planned."
　北朝鮮は今回、「衛星を予定の軌道に乗せた」と成功を誇示している。

This time around, it appears North Korea succeeded in controlling the missile's flight, separating second- and third-stage rockets, the main tasks it faced toward developing the capability to fire long-range ballistic missiles. North Korea's missile range has extended considerably and its accuracy has improved, posing a grave threat to the international community.
課題だった飛行の制御や２段目と３段目の切り離しに成功した可能性がある。射程延伸や精度向上で脅威は増大している。

Why is North Korea so obsessed with launching "satellites" at enormous costs? It is unthinkable the true purpose was to put a shoddy satellite into orbit. The truth is that the hermetic country believes its survival depends on bolstering its nuclear deterrence capability by possessing atomic weapons and missiles to carry the payloads.
　北朝鮮が巨費を投じて発射を繰り返すのは、貧弱な人工衛星打ち上げが真の目的ではあるまい。核兵器と、その運搬手段のミサイルの保有で核抑止力を強化してこそ生き残れるとの判断があろう。

According to South Korean TV reports, then former chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army delivered an address to military executives at the start of this year, saying: "Launching a satellite is equal to [launching] a weaponized rocket. It enables us to install nuclear weapons on rockets capable of reaching the U.S. mainland."
　韓国のテレビによると、北朝鮮の人民軍元総参謀長が今年初め、幹部に対し「衛星打ち上げはロケット兵器と同じだ。核爆弾搭載で米本土まで飛ばすことができる」と講演したという。

The United States is concerned these remarks may come true.
米国が恐れるのは、まさにそういう事態だ。

Japan, which is already within the range of North Korea's Rodong intermediate-range ballistic missile, must strengthen its alliance with the United States and enhance its deterrence against North Korea. To achieve this it is crucial that Japan be able to exercise its right to collective self-defense regarding its missile defense system.
　日本は既に北朝鮮の中距離弾道ミサイル・ノドンの射程にある。日米同盟を強化し、北朝鮮への抑止力を高めるには、ミサイル防衛などを巡り集団的自衛権の行使を可能にすることが求められる。

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J-Alert worked smoothly

Wednesday's missile launch was regarded as a surprise, as the international community was under the impression that North Korea had decided to delay the launch. This highlights the limits of intelligence analysis on North Korea's activities.
　今回は、延期かと思われた中での奇襲的な発射だった。北朝鮮情報の分析の限界を示している。

Nevertheless, the Japanese government was able to disseminate information about the launch to local governments in Okinawa Prefecture through the J-Alert early warning system six minutes after the launch.
　それでも日本政府はミサイル発射の６分後に全国瞬時警報システム（Ｊアラート）で沖縄県内の自治体などに第一報を速報した。

The government's success in conveying information this time around shows it has learned from lessons of the past and improved its system for confirming, conveying and announcing such important information.
In 2009, the government issued a false alarm before North Korea actually fired a missile, and in April this year, the government's announcement of the missile launch was significantly delayed.
　まずまず円滑に情報発信できたのは、３年前の「発射」誤報と今年４月の大幅な発表遅延の反省を踏まえ、情報確認・伝達・発表の仕組みを改善した成果だ。

The Self-Defense Forces deployed three Aegis-equipped destroyers with interceptor missiles to the East China Sea as well as units equipped with PAC-3 missiles to Ishigakijima island in Okinawa Prefecture and other areas to prepare for the missile's fall.
　自衛隊は、迎撃ミサイル搭載のイージス艦３隻を東シナ海に、地対空誘導弾部隊を沖縄・石垣島などに派遣し、ミサイル落下の事態に備えた。

The deployment was completed in a much shorter time than for the previous two launches.
部隊配置完了は前２回の発射時より大幅に早かった。

What is the key to success in national security and crisis management? It is to meticulously draw up contingency plans; conduct thorough training; and incorporate lessons learned to make the plans more rigorous.
　不測の事態に備えて計画を練り、訓練を重ね、反省点を計画の改善に生かしていく。それが安全保障・危機管理の要諦である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 13, 2012)
（2012年12月13日01時53分  読売新聞）