非核化拒む「北」 警戒も制裁も緩めてはならぬ

The Yomiuri Shimbun April 27, 2013
International community mustn't lower guard, sanctions against North Korea
非核化拒む「北」　警戒も制裁も緩めてはならぬ（4月26日付・読売社説）

North Korea's Chief of General Staff Hyon Yong Chol pledged at the 81st anniversary of the inauguration of the Korean People's Army to mass-produce precise miniaturized nuclear weapons and the means of their delivery.
　「核保有国」の既成事実化を図ろうとする北朝鮮の姿勢が、ますます鮮明になってきた。
国際社会は、警戒も制裁も緩めるべきではない。

His remark reflects the order to develop more powerful nuclear weapons that was given by North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong Un at a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in March.
　朝鮮人民軍創建８１周年の大会で、玄永哲総参謀長が「精密化、小型化された核兵器と運搬手段」を量産すると表明した。

Pyongyang apparently intends to accelerate development of nuclear warheads. We must stay alert for additional nuclear tests and test-launches of ballistic missiles by the country.
　３月の朝鮮労働党中央委員会総会で、金正恩第１書記が指示した核戦力増強路線を受けたものだ。今後、核弾頭の開発に拍車をかけるつもりだろう。
　さらなる核実験や弾道ミサイル発射に警戒が怠れない。

Members of the international community need to unite to strictly carry out U.N. Security Council resolutions on sanctions against North Korea. They should thoroughly inspect cargo suspected of containing embargoed goods such as those related to nuclear weapons and missiles. They should also tighten monitoring of North Korea's financial transactions.
　国際社会は結束して、北朝鮮に対する国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議を厳格に履行する必要がある。核・ミサイル関連物資など禁輸品の疑いがある貨物の検査や金融取引の監視を徹底すべきだ。

Fang Fenghui, chief of the general staff of the People's Liberation Army of China, has said North Korea might go ahead with its fourth nuclear test and that he resolutely opposes it.
　中国人民解放軍の房峰輝総参謀長は、北朝鮮が４回目の核実験を強行する可能性を指摘し、「断固として反対する」と述べた。

China's responsibility

China, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, is the biggest aid donor and trade partner for North Korea. Beijing should be aware of its responsibility regarding North Korea and deal with Pyongyang strictly.
　中国は、北朝鮮にとって最大の援助国・貿易相手国で、安保理常任理事国だ。その責任を自覚して厳しく対処してもらいたい。

North Korea is still poised to fire ballistic missiles. Its strategic rocket units maintain the highest level of attack readiness.
　北朝鮮は、弾道ミサイル発射の構えを崩していない。戦略ロケット軍部隊などは最高度の戦闘勤務態勢を維持したままだ。

Japan must cooperate with the United States to stay on alert and maintain surveillance for a Pyongyang missile launch.
　日本は米国と連携し、ミサイル発射に備えた警戒監視態勢を堅持しなければならない。

U.S.-South Korea joint military drills are scheduled to conclude at the end of April. Last week, North Korea responded to U.S. calls for dialogue and presented conditions for the resumption of talks. This might be a strategic move toward starting negotiations with Washington.
　４月末には米韓合同軍事演習が終わる。北朝鮮が先週、米国の対話の呼びかけに反応し、対話再開へ条件を提示したのは、対米交渉へ動く布石とも受け取れる。

However, North Korea's National Defense Commission said in a statement that retraction of the U.N. Security Council's sanction resolutions, termination of U.S.-South Korea military drills and withdrawal of U.S. tools for a nuclear war, such as strategic bombers, were necessary to resume any talks with Seoul or Washington.
　北朝鮮の国防委員会の声明は、対話再開には、安保理の制裁決議の撤回や、米韓合同軍事演習の恒久中止、戦略爆撃機など「核戦争手段」の撤収が必要だとした。

Denuclearization of N. Korea

The demand for the retraction of U.N. sanctions is too much. Pyongyang implies it would hold talks with Seoul or Washington if they recognize North Korea as a nuclear power, but such a stance cannot be tolerated.
　制裁撤回要求は虫がよすぎる。決して容認できないのは、「核保有国」としてなら対話に臨むという北朝鮮の姿勢である。

It is a matter of course that Japan, the United States and South Korea have flatly rejected these conditions, saying the only aim of resuming talks is to denuclearize North Korea.
　日本や米国、韓国などが「対話再開はあくまでも非核化に向けたもの」として、北朝鮮がつけた条件を一蹴したのは当然である。

Recently, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Japan, China and South Korea. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se traveled to China and South Korean President Park Geun Hye is scheduled to visit the United States next month for talks with U.S. President Barack Obama.
　米国は、ケリー国務長官やデンプシー統合参謀本部議長が日中韓を歴訪した。韓国は尹炳世外相が訪中し、朴槿恵大統領も来月訪米してオバマ大統領と会談する。

More active diplomatic talks among countries concerned would provide valuable opportunities for them to seek a common strategy in dealing with North Korea.
　関係国による外交の活発化は、北朝鮮に対する共通の戦略を探る上で重要な機会となろう。

The nuclearization of North Korea is a grave threat to the safety of Japan. The government must do its best in diplomatic talks with countries concerned to enhance national security.
　北朝鮮の核武装は、日本の安全への重大な脅威だ。日本の安全保障を強化するため、外交にも全力を挙げなければならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 26, 2013)
（2013年4月26日01時40分 読売新聞）