対「北」制裁決議 厳格な履行へカギ握る中国

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China holds key to strictly enforcing sanctions resolution on North Korea
対「北」制裁決議　厳格な履行へカギ握る中国

It is crucial for the international community to stand united and crank up the pressure on North Korea to bring about Pyongyang’s abandonment of its nuclear weapons program.
　国際社会が結束して、北朝鮮への圧力を強め、核放棄の実現につなげることが肝要である。

The U.N. Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution that significantly strengthens sanctions on North Korea in response to its latest defiant nuclear test and launch of a long-range ballistic missile.
　核実験と長距離弾道ミサイル発射を強行した北朝鮮に対して、国連安全保障理事会が制裁を大幅に強化する決議を全会一致で採択した。

This is the fifth resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea. While it was unusual that it took nearly two months after the nuclear test to reach an agreement on the resolution, the sanctions are the toughest imposed on North Korea to date.
　対北朝鮮制裁決議は５回目だ。核実験実施から２か月近くを要したのは異例だが、これまでにない強力な内容になったと言える。

The resolution obliges states to inspect all cargo going to and from North Korea, rather than limiting inspections to shipments suspected to contain embargoed goods in fields related to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile development programs.
　決議は、北朝鮮に出入りする貨物について、核・ミサイル関連分野などで禁輸品の疑いがある場合に限らず、すべて検査することを各国に義務づけた。

Most noteworthy is that these steps are aimed squarely at revenue sources of the military and the Workers’ Party of Korea — two mainstays of the Kim Jong Un regime.
　注目すべきは、金正恩政権の中枢を担う朝鮮労働党や軍の収入源を狙い撃ちした措置である。

The resolution bans, in principle, exports of North Korean mineral resources, including coal and iron ore. It also placed an embargo on aviation fuel, a step aimed at weakening the military. If the sanctions are strictly enforced, we think they will deliver a strong blow to the Kim administration, which has been recklessly pursuing nuclear missile development.
　北朝鮮産の石炭や鉄鉱石など鉱物資源の輸出は原則、禁止した。軍の弱体化を狙い、航空用燃料も禁輸とした。制裁が厳格に履行されれば、核ミサイル開発へ暴走する金政権に相当な打撃を与えられるのではないか。

North Korea bristled at moves to adopt the resolution. The official Korean Central News Agency described them as an “infringement on [North Korea’s] sovereignty and [a] grave challenge to it.”
　北朝鮮は朝鮮中央通信を通じて、決議採択の動きに対し、「自主権に対する侵害であり、重大な挑戦だ」などと反発している。

Shortly after the resolution was adopted, North Korea fired six projectiles thought to be short-range missiles or rockets into the Sea of Japan. Vigilance must be maintained against further military provocations.
　採択直後には、短距離ミサイルかロケット弾とみられる６発を日本海に向けて発射した。さらなる軍事挑発への警戒は怠れまい。

Do not allow loophole

Having China stand front and center is paramount for sharpening the effect of these sanctions. There are suspicions that previously goods were illicitly transported to and from North Korea via China.
　制裁の効果を高めるには、中国が前面に立つことが不可欠だ。従来は、中国経由で物資が不正に輸送されている疑いがあった。

The latest sanctions resolution allows, as an exception, the export of North Korean coal and iron ore provided revenue from their sale is spent for civilian purposes. The decision to buy these resources rests with China and other importing nations. This must not become a loophole used to flout the resolution.
　今回の制裁決議は、収入が民生用の場合は例外として、北朝鮮産の石炭や鉄鉱石の輸出を認めた。その判断は中国など輸入国に委ねられる。これを抜け道として利用させてはならない。

Discussions on the resolution became protracted because the United States was demanding tough sanctions, which China strongly resisted.
　決議を巡る協議は、強力な制裁を求める米国に、中国が強く抵抗し、長期化した。

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the United States at the end of March. We wonder if China relented in an attempt to avoid criticism for dragging out the resolution discussions at a time when Washington and Beijing are at odds over the situation in the South China Sea.
　習近平国家主席は今月末に訪米する。中国が譲歩したのは、南シナ海情勢で米国と対立する中、制裁協議の引き延ばしへの批判を避けようとしたためではないか。

Russia wanted to make changes to the resolution during the final stage of the discussions. It appears Russia’s intention was to secure some influence in Korean Peninsula affairs.
　ロシアも協議の最終局面で決議の修正を求めた。朝鮮半島問題での影響力を確保しようという思惑があったのだろう。

Japan, as a nonpermanent member of the Security Council, contributed to the adoption of the resolution. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized Japan will “work with the international community and rigorously implement [the resolution].”
　日本は、安保理非常任理事国として、決議採択に貢献した。安倍首相は「国際社会と協力し、厳格に実施していく」と強調した。

The resolution also mentioned “the humanitarian concerns of the international community” with regard to North Korea. Based on close cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea, it is vital that the nuclear and missile problems are linked to seeking progress in resolving the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea.
　決議は北朝鮮に関し、「国際社会による人道上の懸念」にも言及している。日米韓の連携を基盤に、核、ミサイル問題と連動して、日本人拉致問題の進展を目指すことが欠かせない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 4, 2016)