Travel ban on N. K. officials
(From The Japan Times July 23 issue)

北朝鮮国連制裁で初の渡航禁止

The United Nations Security Council's sanctions committee has slapped a new set of sanctions on North Korea in accordance with Resolution 1874, which the council adopted June 12 in response to the North's second nuclear test May 25. After the committee's decision July 16, Mr. Fazil Corman, deputy permanent representative of Turkey to the U.N. who chairs the committee, said, "Today's position demonstrates our unity and resolve on this critical issue of international peace and security," and stressed that the decision binds all 192 U.N. member states.

Inadequate implementation of the U.N. sanctions following the North's first nuclear test in October 2006 may have led to its second nuclear test. To prevent further nuclear and missile tests by North Korea, it is important for the international community to faithfully execute the new sanctions. The inspection of cargo aboard North Korean ships as called for by Resolution 1874 has already had some effect. The North Korean ship Kang Nam 1, suspected of carrying illicit materials, returned to North Korea after the U.S. Navy tracked it for more than a week.

The committee has imposed a travel ban on five North Korean officials ― two officials of the General Bureau of Atomic Energy (GBAE), another nuclear official and two trading firm officials ― and frozen the assets of GBAE and four trading firms, in addition to the three entities subjected to an asset freeze in late April. It also has banned the trade of two weapons-related materials to and from North Korea. This is the first time the U.N. has imposed a travel ban on North Korean individuals.

The United States and Japan had demanded that 15 North Koreans, including Mr. Ju Kyu Chang, a member of the National Defense Commission, be put on a travel-ban list. China and Russia opposed the idea, saying it would pique North Korea. Still, the fact that China, on which North Korea heavily relies for food and oil, eventually supported a travel ban on North Koreans could put pressure on Pyongyang.

The North should realize that its provocative behavior will only put itself in a tighter corner.

国連安保理の北朝鮮制裁委員会は、北朝鮮の2度目の核実験を受け、決議1874に基づいた新たな制裁を決定した。

1度目の核実験後の制裁が失敗し2度目を招いた可能性があり、今後の実験阻止のためにも、今回の制裁を粛々と実行する必要がある。

委員会は北朝鮮高官ら5名の渡航禁止措置だけでなく、資産凍結でも原子力総局と貿易業者4社を指定、指定団体は計8団体となった。国連が北朝鮮の個人に渡航禁止を科すのは初めて。

15名の渡航禁止を望む日米に対し、北朝鮮を刺激すると中露が抵抗。しかし北朝鮮が食糧や石油の輸入先として依存している中国が最終的に制裁に合意し、北朝鮮は圧力を感じるだろう。

挑発的行動が自国を窮地に陥れるということを北朝鮮は認識すべきだ。