拉致再調査中止 「北」の揺さぶりに冷静対処を

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Govt needs to calmly deal with N. Korea’s halt to abduction probe
拉致再調査中止　「北」の揺さぶりに冷静対処を

North Korea’s latest act is a despicable attempt to pressure our nation. The Japanese government should not be upset by this, and must make persistent efforts to resolve the issue of the Japanese nationals abducted by that country.
　北朝鮮の卑劣な揺さぶりである。政府は、動じることなく、日本人拉致問題の解決に粘り強く取り組まねばならない。

North Korea has announced it will completely halt a renewed investigation it launched regarding the fate of Japanese abductees and others in July 2014. It also said it would dissolve the Special Investigation Committee.
　北朝鮮が、２０１４年７月に開始した拉致被害者らの再調査を全面的に中止すると発表した。「特別調査委員会」は解体するという。

According to an announcement by North Korea, the latest move has been taken as a response to the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s strengthening its unilateral sanctions on the country. In the same announcement, North Korea also threatened Japan that it will “continue strong countermeasures to Japan’s provocative acts of hostility.”
　安倍政権が北朝鮮に対する独自制裁を強化したことへの対抗措置としている。北朝鮮は「日本の挑発的な敵対行為に対する強力な対応措置が続く」と恫喝どうかつした。

North Korea also asserts that Japan’s move to strengthen its sanctions was tantamount to “nullifying” the Stockholm agreement reached in May 2014 to reinvestigate. Japan’s position is that it has no intention to abrogate the accord.
　北朝鮮は、日本の制裁強化で、１４年５月の再調査に関する日朝のストックホルム合意が「破棄」されたとも主張する。日本は「破棄する考えはない」との立場だ。

Under the agreement, Japan lifted part of the sanctions it imposed on North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang’s renewed investigation into the fate of the Japanese nationals in question. They include the 12 people who have been acknowledged by the Japanese government as abductees, but have not yet returned to Japan, as well as other Japanese missing and thought have been abducted by North Korean agents.
　合意では、未帰国の拉致被害者１２人や、拉致の可能性のある特定失踪者らの再調査と引き換えに、日本が制裁の一部を解除した。

Japan’s action to reinforce sanctions was in response to North Korea’s recent move to conduct a nuclear test and launch a ballistic missile, thereby threatening regional security. North Korea’s accusations against our nation are absurd.
　制裁の強化は、北朝鮮が核実験と弾道ミサイル発射を強行し、地域の安全を脅かしたためである。北朝鮮の批判は筋違いだ。

It should be noted, first of all, that North Korea has put off reporting the pertinent findings of its probe for more than 1½ years, including what has become of those who were abducted. Although North Korea told Japan that it “has set up four subcommittees” on the committee, it is doubtful whether the country has actually seriously renewed its investigations into the abductions.
　そもそも、北朝鮮は１年半以上も、被害者の安否情報などの報告を先送りしてきた。「４分科会を設置した」などと説明していたが、真剣に拉致問題の再調査を行ったかどうかすら疑わしい。

World must step up pressure

North Korea’s conduct has been particularly hard on the abductees’ families, who had pinned their hopes on the renewed probe.
　再調査に期待を寄せた被害者家族の感情を踏みにじる行為だ。

Shutting its eyes to its own atrocities, Pyongyang has blamed the whole problem on Japan. Its assertions are totally unacceptable.
　自らの非道を棚に上げて、日本に責任を押しつける北朝鮮の主張は、到底容認できない。

The Japanese government has lodged a protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels. Katsunobu Kato, the minister in charge of the abduction issue, has emphasized that he wants to “do [his] utmost to get North Korea to take specific actions, through dialogue and pressure and under the principle of action for action.” He had every reason to strongly demand Pyongyang continue its reinvestigation into the abduction issue.
　政府は、外交ルートを通じて北朝鮮に抗議した。加藤拉致問題相は「対話と圧力、行動対行動の原則の下、北朝鮮から具体的な行動を引き出すよう、最大限努力したい」と強調した。再調査の継続を強く要求していくのは当然だ。

North Korea has sought to gain greater rewards for fewer concessions by providing various pieces of scattered information. This approach is the country’s usual ploy. The Japanese government should never be cajoled into following North Korea’s lead on bilateral negotiations.
　様々な情報をちらつかせ、より少ない譲歩で、より多くの見返りを得ようとするのは北朝鮮の常套じょうとう手段である。相手の交渉ペースにはまってはなるまい。

North Korea’s announcement on its suspension of the renewed probe may also be viewed as an attempt to disrupt Japan’s cooperative ties with the United States and South Korea by focusing on a problem unique to our nation.
　北朝鮮の再調査の中止表明は、日本固有の問題を取り上げ、米韓両国との足並みの乱れを生じさせる狙いもあるとみられる。

Japan’s basic policy is to seek a comprehensive solution to both the abduction issue and North Korea’s nuclear weapon and missile development. This is the time for Japan to cooperate with the international community to step up pressure on North Korea to rein in its dangerous acts of provocation.
　拉致と核・ミサイル問題の包括的な解決が日本の基本方針だ。今は、国際社会と連携し、北朝鮮の危険な挑発に歯止めをかけるために、圧力を強める時である。

South Korea has imposed a unilateral sanction on the North by shutting down operations at the Kaesong industrial complex, an inter-Korea cooperative project. The United States is also set to strengthen its economic sanctions on North Korea.
　韓国は、独自の制裁として、南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業中断に踏み切った。米国も北朝鮮への経済制裁を強化する。

As in the past, it is important for Japan, the United States and South Korea to closely cooperate with each other. The emphasis should be put on ensuring that the U.N. Security Council soon adopts additional stern sanctions on North Korea.
　日米韓３か国の緊密な協調が引き続き大切である。国連安全保障理事会での厳格な追加制裁決議の早期採択に力を入れたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 14, 2016)