北朝鮮核実験 国際連携で制裁を強化せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 14, 2013)
World must unite to halt Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions
北朝鮮核実験　国際連携で制裁を強化せよ（2月13日付・読売社説）

　◆習近平政権の厳格対応が問われる
North Korea's nuclear weapons development has entered a more dangerous stage. In light of the deteriorating security environment, Japan should strengthen its deterrence against Pyongyang in cooperation with the United States and other countries.
　北朝鮮の核兵器開発が一段と危険な段階に入った。安全保障環境の悪化を踏まえ、日本は米国などと連携し、対北朝鮮抑止力を強化すべきだ。

On Tuesday, North Korea went ahead with its third underground nuclear test. It was the first nuclear test under the regime of Kim Jong Un.
　北朝鮮が１２日、３回目の地下核実験を強行した。金正恩政権にとっては初めての核実験だ。

Pyongyang boasted that it successfully conducted a "high-level" nuclear test using "a miniaturized and lighter" nuclear device with greater explosive force than those used in the previous tests in 2006 and 2009. North Korea apparently aims to develop a nuclear warhead.
　２００６年、０９年の過去２回に比べ、強力で「小型化、軽量化」した核爆弾による「高水準」の実験に成功したと喧伝(けんでん)している。核弾頭の開発を図ったのだろう。

Given that North Korea also tested a long-range ballistic missile in the guise of a satellite launch in December, marking a dramatic extension of its missile range, there is no doubt that the country has moved a step closer to bringing nuclear missiles to the stage of practical use.
　昨年１２月の「人工衛星」と称する長距離弾道ミサイル発射による射程の大幅延伸の成功と合わせて、北朝鮮が核ミサイルの実用化に近づいたのは間違いない。

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Serious threat to Japan
　◆日本への深刻な脅威だ

It was only natural for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to make a statement strongly condemning North Korea's nuclear test, saying it is "totally unacceptable" as it "constitutes a grave threat to Japan's security."
　安倍首相が、「我が国の安全に対する重大な脅威」として、北朝鮮の核実験強行を「断じて容認できない」と強く非難する声明を発表したのは当然である。

Japan will come under the most serious threat due to deployment of nuclear missiles by North Korea. This is because Japan is within striking distance of North Korea's medium-range Rodong missiles, about 200 of which are believed to have already been deployed.
　核ミサイルの配備で最も深刻な脅威にさらされるのは日本だ。約２００基が配備ずみとされる中距離弾道ミサイル「ノドン」の射程に入っているからだ。

It is essential to improve Japan's missile defense capability based on cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military as well as to guarantee the reliability of the U.S. "nuclear umbrella," which Japan, a nonnuclear nation, relies on as a deterrent.
　自衛隊と米軍の協力を基礎にミサイル防衛能力を向上させるとともに、核を持たぬ日本が抑止力とする米国の「核の傘」の信頼性を担保することが重要だ。

We commend Abe for immediately tightening Japan's unilateral sanctions against North Korea by banning the reentry of vice chairmen and other senior officials of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) if they leave for North Korea. The prime minister should discuss additional measures.
　首相が、在日本朝鮮人総連合会（朝鮮総連）副議長らが訪朝すれば再入国を認めない、との日本独自の制裁強化を直ちに実施したことは評価できる。追加の措置も検討してもらいたい。

Although it suspended production of plutonium for nuclear weapons, North Korea has resumed its enrichment of uranium. Therefore, it could begin mass production of nuclear weapons using enriched uranium. The international community must make all-out efforts to stop North Korea's further nuclear and missile development.
　北朝鮮は、核兵器用のプルトニウムの生産は中断したが、新たにウラン濃縮活動を始めており、高濃縮ウラン型の核兵器の量産に入る恐れがある。これ以上の核・ミサイル開発を阻止するため、全力を挙げねばならない。

The latest nuclear test by North Korea is a major test also for South Korean President-elect Park Geun Hye, who will officially take office on Feb. 25. The Japan-U.S. alliance must be strengthened as a matter of course and it is also crucial to establish a crisis management system between Japan, the United States and South Korea.
　２５日に就任する韓国の朴槿恵次期大統領にとっても、この核実験は大きな試練だ。日米同盟の強化は無論、日米韓で危機管理体制を構築することが不可欠である。

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Stronger U.N. sanctions needed
　◆国連決議の強化を図れ

The U.N. Security Council must adopt a new resolution calling for stronger sanctions against North Korea.
　国連安全保障理事会は、制裁強化を新たに決議すべきだ。

On Jan. 22, the Security Council adopted a resolution to expand sanctions against North Korea after it fired a missile in December and warned of "significant action" if North Korea went ahead with a nuclear test.
　安保理は１月２２日、昨年１２月にミサイル発射を強行した北朝鮮に対する制裁強化決議を採択し、核実験を強行すれば「重大な行動を取る」と警告していた。

But North Korea has conducted missile and nuclear tests repeatedly in defiance of Security Council resolutions because the adopted sanctions lacked practical effect.
　北朝鮮が安保理決議を無視してミサイル発射と核実験を繰り返したのは、従来の制裁措置が実効性を欠いていたためだ。

To break this vicious circle, the Security Council should adopt comprehensive and practical sanctions and implement them thoroughly.
　この悪循環を断ち切るため、安保理は今度こそ包括的で実効性ある制裁を決定し、その実施を徹底すべきである。

In connection with nuclear and missile development, North Korea has deep relations with Iran and Pakistan. With Iran, North Korea concluded an agreement on science and technology cooperation last autumn. The international community must strictly restrict and monitor the movement of goods, money and personnel to prevent North Korea promoting nuclear and missile development.
　核とミサイルの開発を巡り、北朝鮮はイラン、パキスタンと深い関係にある。イランとは昨秋、科学技術協力で合意した。国際社会は、モノやカネ、ヒトの移動を厳しく制限、監視して、開発に歯止めをかけねばならない。

It is necessary to study comprehensive financial sanctions while bringing into perspective a plan to include financial institutions that do business with North Korea on the sanctions list. It is also important to impose mandatory inspections of cargoes suspected to be banned trade items such as weapons of mass destruction and related materials.
　北朝鮮と取引する金融機関を対象に含めることも視野に、包括的な金融制裁の実施を検討すべきだ。大量破壊兵器・関連物資など禁輸品の疑いがある貨物の検査の「義務化」も目指す必要がある。

North Korea said it will regard ship inspections as a blockade at sea and retaliate with a "military strike." Its moves must be constantly watched.
　北朝鮮は船舶検査を海上封鎖とみなし、「軍事的打撃で対応する」と恫喝(どうかつ)した。警戒が怠れない。

The role of China, a permanent Security Council member, is crucial.
　安保理常任理事国・中国の役割は重要だ。

China accounts for 70 percent of North Korea's trade. The country has transshipment ports for many vessels from North Korea. It holds the power of life or death over North Korea as the biggest supplier of energy and food aid.
　中国は、北朝鮮の貿易量の７割を占める。北朝鮮からの多くの船舶が貨物積み替えを行う港湾を持つ。エネルギーや食料の最大の援助国として生殺与奪権をも握っている。

Ostensibly, Beijing expressed its "absolute objection" to North Korea's nuclear test. But it hesitated to impose sanctions for fear of the Korean Peninsula being destabilized, thereby tacitly encouraging North Korea's nuclear development.
　中国は表向き、北朝鮮の核実験に「断固反対」を唱える。だが、朝鮮半島が不安定になることを恐れて制裁には及び腰だったことが北朝鮮の核開発を助長した。

The Global News, a Chinese newspaper affiliated with the People's Daily, the organ of the Chinese Communist Party, has insisted on not hesitating to cut assistance if North Korea conducted a nuclear test. The Chinese government led by Xi Jinping must deal with North Korea sternly and put strong pressure on it to give up its nuclear ambitions.
　中国共産党機関紙「人民日報」系の環球時報は、北朝鮮が核実験をすれば援助削減を「ためらうな」と主張していた。習近平政権は、北朝鮮に厳しく対処し、核開発断念へ強い圧力をかけるべきだ。

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Economic recovery unlikely
　◆遠のく「北」の経済再建

Kim Jong Un's slogan of "improving the people's livelihoods" shows no sign of being achieved. It seems he has no means of winning over the military and public sentiment other than boasting of nuclear and missile tests.
　金第１書記の掲げる「人民生活の向上」は一向に果たされないように見える。核とミサイルの成果を誇示する以外、軍と民心をひきつける術(すべ)がないのではないか。

Fear of being targeted by a North Korean missile attack is growing even in the United States. With this as leverage, the Kim regime intends to open the possibility of dialogue with Washington. It probably aims to have economic sanctions lifted and to gain U.S. assurances of the safety of the current regime, all while keeping its nuclear arms.
　北朝鮮の核ミサイルの標的になりかねないという脅威認識は、米国でも広がりつつある。金政権には、それをテコに米国との対話の道を開き、核兵器を保有したまま、経済制裁解除と現体制の安全の保障を得る狙いがあろう。

But negotiations with Pyongyang should not be conducted easily. The international community should not lift sanctions on North Korea as long as it does not take concrete action to relinquish its nuclear ambitions.
　だが、安易に交渉に臨むのは禁物だ。北朝鮮が核放棄へ具体的行動を取らない限り、国際社会は制裁を解除してはならない。

Pyongyang must be aware that its own behavior will ultimately undermine its regime.
　北朝鮮は、自らの行動が結果的には体制の脆弱(ぜいじゃく)化を招くことを自覚すべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13, 2013)
（2013年2月13日01時17分  読売新聞）