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The latest round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons programs failed to set a deadline for the North's completion of next-phase commitments in its denuclearization process, specified in a Feb. 13 deal. The possibility of future hitches, though, cannot be ruled out if Pyongyang maneuvers for more concessions.
In the press communique, the North reiterated that it will completely declare all nuclear programs and disable all existing nuclear facilities. In return, the other parties will provide the North with economic and humanitarian assistance.
The next session of the six-party talks will be held in early September. But some difficulties may arise in determining the scope of "all nuclear programs" and defining "disabling." Before implementing its second-phase obligations, Pyongyang may call on Wash-ington to remove it from a U.S. list of nations supporting terrorism and to lift economic sanctions under a law governing trade with "enemy" countries.
Japan takes the position that it will not provide assistance to North Korea until the latter properly addresses the abduction of Japanese nationals by its agents. To prevent Pyongyang from using Tokyo's stance as an excuse to delay the implementation of its com-mitments, Japan needs to take a wise approach. The United States, Japan, China, South Korea and Russia must do their best to get the North to complete the second-phase commitments as soon as possible.
The Japan Times Weekly: July 28, 2007
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北朝鮮の核開発に関する6ヵ国協議の首席代表会合は、同国の非核化に向けた「次の段階の措置」について履行期限を定めず閉会した。
報道発表文で、北朝鮮は全核計画の申告と核施設の無能力化を約束した。他の参加国は見返りに、北朝鮮に対し経済・人道援助を実施する。次回協議は9月初旬に予定されているが、「全核計画」と「無能力化」の定義をめぐって問題が起きる可能性がある。
日本は、北朝鮮が日本人拉致問題解決について協力しない限り、援助は供与しないとの立場を取っている。日本は、北朝鮮が日本の立場を利用して非核化の約束の履行を遅らせないよう、慎重な対応をする必要がある。日米中韓露は、できるだけ早く北朝鮮に第2段階の措置を実施させるよう最善をつくすべきだ。
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