北朝鮮ミサイル 「不意打ち」への備えは万全か

[The Yomiuri Shimbun] April 7, 2013
EDITORIAL / Make thorough preparations for N. Korean surprise missile launch
北朝鮮ミサイル　「不意打ち」への備えは万全か（4月6日付・読売社説）

North Korea's threatening words and actions have escalated even further recently.
　北朝鮮が威嚇的な言動を、さらにエスカレートさせている。

We're no longer at a stage where Pyongyang's rhetoric and behavior can be considered mere provocations. Japan needs to make preparations to swiftly address any contingency by strengthening cooperation with the United States and South Korea.
　もはや挑発行為と受け止めるだけで済む段階ではあるまい。日本は米国や韓国と連携を強化し、不測の事態に迅速に対応できる態勢を整える必要がある。

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan Jin said Thursday that North Korea has moved a medium-range ballistic missile to the Sea of Japan coast. This missile is a Musudan type that has a range of more than 3,000 kilometers, capable of reaching the U.S. Pacific island of Guam.
　韓国の金寛鎮国防相が、北朝鮮が中距離弾道ミサイルを日本海側に移動させたと明らかにした。
　推定射程３０００キロ・メートル以上のムスダン・ミサイルで、米グアム島に到達可能とされる。

The United States has since dispatched a sea-based high-performance X-band radar, which has early warning capability, and two Aegis-equipped destroyers to the western Pacific and areas near the Korean Peninsula. Washington also decided to deploy a state-of-the-art missile defense system to Guam to be ready within weeks.
　米国は、早期警戒能力を持つ海上配備型の高性能Ｘバンドレーダーやイージス艦２隻などを西太平洋や朝鮮半島付近海域に派遣した。グアム島には、最新鋭のミサイル防衛（ＭＤ）システムを数週間以内に配備すると決めた。

'Real and clear danger'

The United States has apparently taken seriously the enhancement of North Korea's nuclear attack capability, described by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel as a "real and clear danger," as a threat to itself and its allies, Japan and South Korea.
　ヘーゲル米国防長官が「現実の、明白な危機」と述べた通り、北朝鮮の核攻撃能力の向上を、米国や日韓など同盟国への脅威として、深刻に受け止めた結果だろう。

Late last month, Kim Jong Un, the first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, approved a plan to attack the U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Guam if the United States attacks the country. The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea's ruling party, listed U.S. military bases in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture; Misawa, Aomori Prefecture; and Okinawa Prefecture as potential attack targets.
　北朝鮮の金正恩第１書記は先月末、「米国が攻撃すれば」との条件付きながら、「米本土やハワイ、グアム島」などへの攻撃計画を承認した。朝鮮労働党機関紙は、横須賀、三沢、沖縄の在日米軍基地も攻撃対象に挙げた。

By flaunting North Korea's strike capability at home and abroad, Kim probably also aims to bolster his authority. However, any moves that raise tensions in Northeast Asia should not be taken lightly.
　攻撃能力を内外に誇示し、自らの権威を高める狙いもあろう。だが、北東アジアの緊張を高める動きを看過することはできない。

Japan is within the reach of North Korea's Rodong medium-range ballistic missiles, which have already been deployed in a war scenario. Japan must ratchet up its vigilance and surveillance activities another notch.
　日本は、北朝鮮が実戦配備済みの中距離弾道ミサイル・ノドンの射程に入っている。監視と警戒を一段と強化する必要がある。

Unlike North Korea's test-firing of long-range ballistic missiles in 2009 and 2012, which it announced in advance as a satellite launch, it is highly likely the country would launch a missile without prior notice about the timing and where the missile is expected to fall.
　「人工衛星打ち上げ」の事前通告があった２００９年と１２年の長距離弾道ミサイルとは異なり、時期や着弾地の予告もないままに発射される可能性が高い。

The government must assume various possible contingencies and take all possible measures to prepare for a North Korean missile launch.
　政府は様々な事態を想定し、備えに万全を期さねばならない。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructed the deputy chief cabinet secretary for crisis management to take action on three points: thoroughly collecting and analyzing information on North Korea's moves; quickly and accurately providing information to the public; and ensuring people's safety and security. We think these measures are appropriate.
　安倍首相が、北朝鮮に関する情報収集・分析の徹底、国民への迅速・的確な情報提供、国民の安全・安心の確保――の３点を徹底するよう内閣危機管理監に指示したのは適切な措置だ。

Defenders must be on guard

In preparation for a possible missile launch by North Korea, the government has begun discussions toward issuing an order that would authorize the Self-Defense Forces to intercept a missile with a missile defense system. Preparations should also be made without delay for the J-Alert system to be used to warn of a possible missile launch.
　政府はミサイル発射に備え、ＭＤシステムによる迎撃を自衛隊に認める「破壊措置命令」の発令の検討に入った。全国瞬時警報システム「Ｊアラート」の速報態勢の準備も遅滞なく進めるべきだ。

Taking on a policy of strengthening its nuclear arsenal capability, North Korea also announced that it will restart all mothballed facilities at its Yongbyon nuclear complex.
　北朝鮮は、核戦力強化路線を打ち出し、停止中の核施設の再稼働も発表した。

To prepare for contingencies on the Korean Peninsula, the Japanese government must discuss measures in close consultation with the South Korean government, with the protection of Japanese nationals in South Korea also in mind.
　朝鮮半島有事に備え、韓国の邦人保護を念頭に置いて、韓国政府とも緊密に協議し、対応策を検討しておくことが欠かせない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6, 2013)
（2013年4月6日01時24分  読売新聞）