Punishing North Korea
(From The Japan Times June 13 issue)

対北制裁決議採択

The United Nations Security Council has agreed to take tougher measures against North Korea for conducting its second nuclear test May 25. The measures include a "call" — rather than a demand — that U.N. members inspect suspect cargo transported on ships to and from North Korea, additional financial sanctions and an expanded trade embargo on the export of weapons to the country. The UNSC's move is stronger than Resolution 1718, adopted following Pyongyang's first nuclear test in October 2006.

The North should consider the move a stern warning from the international community and return to the six-party talks, whose ultimate aim is to denuclearize the country in exchange for aid from other member states in the talks, and the opening of diplomatic ties with the United States and Japan.

It took the UNSC a relatively long time to reach agreement because China, which chairs the six-party talks and is North Korea's largest trade partner, was cautious about taking measures deemed as too strict. Japan and the United States had called for mandatory inspection of cargo shipped to and from North Korea, but China preferred an "appropriate and balanced" approach to avoid possible military conflict with North Korea. So the UNSC now "calls upon" all U.N. members to inspect cargo carried to and from North Korea in their territories, and to inspect North Korean ships on the high seas with the consent of the flag country — if there is reasonable grounds to believe that the cargo contains nuclear- and missile-related materials. Japan needs to weigh the issue of cargo inspections carefully.

The UNSC also calls for expanding the freeze on the assets of North Korean entities, and individuals to reduce the likelihood of financial services and sources contributing to Pyongyang's programs to develop nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and other weapons of mass destruction.

Toward the end of May, North Korea said it would not accept UNSC resolutions and decisions. It is also preparing for further ballistic missile test launches. U.N. member nations should faithfully implement the new UNSC decision. If the North carries out further provocative acts, the U.N. should be ready to take additional action against it.

国連安保理は2度目の核実験を行なった北朝鮮に対し、新たな制裁決議を採択した。北朝鮮に出入りする貨物の検査を加盟国に「要請」、金融制裁を追加、武器禁輸を拡大するなど、2006年の決議1718を強化した形だ。

北朝鮮はこれを国際社会からの厳しい警告だと受け止め、6カ国協議に復帰すべきだ。

制裁議論は中国が慎重姿勢を崩さず、難航した。北朝鮮に出入りする貨物に禁輸品があると信じるに足る合理的情報がある場合、自国領内での検査を各国に「要請」、公海上でも船舶の所属国の同意のもとでの検査を要請するにとどまった。日本は検査の履行を慎重に考慮すべきだ。

決議には核やミサイル開発につながる金融取引や資産の凍結といった制裁も盛り込まれた。

国連加盟国は決議を順守すべきだ。北朝鮮が挑発行為を続ければ追加制裁も必要だ。