北朝鮮拉致問題 国際連携強め事態を打開せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 3, 2013)
Stronger intl ties key to solve issue of abductions by N. Korea
北朝鮮拉致問題　国際連携強め事態を打開せよ（2月2日付・読売社説）

How can the government make a substantial breakthrough on the issue of abductions by North Korea? The government is now under pressure to have a well-prepared strategy on the issue.
　膠着(こうちゃく)状態に陥っている北朝鮮の日本人拉致問題をどう打開するか。周到な戦略が問われよう。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his intention to solve the issue in the first meeting of his second administration's government Headquarters for the Abduction Issue. All Cabinet ministers are members of the headquarters.
"I would like to solve the problem while I am the supreme officer on the issue," Abe said at the meeting. The government plans to make all-out efforts for the immediate return of all abduction victims, uncover the truth about the abductions and extradite the abductors.
　安倍首相は、全閣僚が参加する拉致問題対策本部の初会合で「私が最高責任者であるうちに解決したい」と表明した。全被害者の即時帰国、拉致の真相究明、実行犯の引き渡しに全力を挙げる方針だ。

The administration also newly established the Liaison Council of Government and Ruling and Opposition Parties Institutions for Measures against Abduction Issue.
　政府と与野党による連絡協議会も新設された。

The abduction of Japanese citizens is a grave crime against national sovereignty and the lives and safety of people. Regardless of their political affiliations, all lawmakers must work together to rescue the victims. We praise the government's efforts in pursuing this issue in such a dedicated manner.
拉致は国の主権と国民の生命・安全に関わる犯罪である。与党も野党もない。被害者救出への知恵を絞るべき時だ。意欲的な体制作りは評価できる。

===

U.N. human rights panel eyed

As an immediate task, Abe said the government will work to establish an investigation committee on human rights issues in North Korea at a March meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council. He revealed the government has begun discussions with relevant countries on the issue.
　当面の課題として首相は、３月の国連人権理事会で北朝鮮の人権問題に関する調査委員会を設置することを目指し、関係国と協議を開始したことを明らかにした。

The United Nations has adopted resolutions to express concern over abductions and serious human rights violations against political prisoners, among others in recent years. They were adopted after initiation by Japan and the European Union, but North Korea has ignored them.
　国連では近年、政治犯に対する深刻な人権侵害や拉致問題などに憂慮を表明し、改善を求める決議が採択されてきた。日本と欧州連合（ＥＵ）の主導によるものだが、北朝鮮は無視し続けている。

Even if such an investigation committee was established, North Korea would refuse to cooperate. However, a thorough investigation by experts will surely boost the international pressure against North Korea.
　調査委員会が設置されても北朝鮮は協力を拒むだろう。しかし、専門家による徹底的な調査は、北朝鮮に対する国際的な圧力を高める効果を持つに違いない。

Under the administration of Kim Jong Un, an official bilateral dialogue between the Japanese and North Korean governments occurred in November last year for the first time in four years. The Japanese side strongly demanded that North Korea take Japan's calls on the abduction issue seriously and respond to them.
　日朝間では、金正恩体制下の昨年１１月、４年ぶりに正式な日朝政府間協議が実現し、日本側は拉致問題への対応を強く求めた。

Without dialogue, it is impossible to find a way to solve the problem. The government needs to advance aggressive diplomacy toward reopening of bilateral talks specifically on the abduction issue.
　対話なくして問題解決への糸口はつかめない。政府間協議の再開に向け、積極的な外交を展開する必要がある。

Out of 17 abduction victims officially recognized by the government, only five of them ever came back to Japan. In addition to the officially recognized abductees, there are hundreds of "missing Japanese probably related to North Korea," who went missing in cases that cannot be ruled out as abductions by North Korea.
　政府の認定する拉致被害者１７人のうち、帰国が実現したのは５人だけだ。北朝鮮による拉致の疑いが排除できない「特定失踪者」も多数に上っている。

Members of abductees' families are elderly and complain of the hellish suffering they have to endure. The government should waste no time in dealing with this issue.
　被害者家族は高齢化し、「地獄の苦しみ」を訴えている。政府は悠長に構えてはいられない。

===

Dialogue and pressure

In December last year North Korea went ahead with launching a long-range ballistic missile despite repeated warnings by the international community. Reacting against the U.N. Security Council's resolution for beefed up sanctions, the country even indicated the possibility of conducting its third nuclear test. This behavior cannot be overlooked.
　一方で北朝鮮は、昨年１２月、国際社会の度重なる警告にもかかわらず長距離弾道ミサイル発射を強行した。国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議に反発して、３回目の核実験の実施にも言及している。こうした態度は看過できない。

If North Korea actually conducted another nuclear test, Japan should closely cooperate with the United States and South Korea, as well as China, to further toughen sanctions against the reclusive country.
　北朝鮮が核実験に踏み切れば、日本は米韓両国や中国と緊密に連携し、北朝鮮に対する制裁を一層強化すべきである。

The Abe administration should advance its North Korea policy, while firmly maintaining the position of "dialogue and pressure."
　安倍政権は、「対話と圧力」を堅持して、対北朝鮮政策を前に進めていかなければならない。

For normalizing Japan-North Korea relations, together with reaching a solution to the nuclear and missile problems, solving the abduction issue is essential. Concrete measures to make North Korea understand this should be considered with the whole country as a united team in an "all-Japan" manner.
　日朝国交正常化には、核・ミサイル問題とともに拉致問題の解決が不可欠だ。それを北朝鮮に自覚させる具体的な手立てをオールジャパンで考えたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 2, 2013)
（2013年2月2日01時24分  読売新聞）