日韓首脳会談 忍耐強く「北」に圧力をかけよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 29, 2009)
United front needed in confronting N. Korea
日韓首脳会談　忍耐強く「北」に圧力をかけよ（6月29日付・読売社説）

As long as North Korea does not change its provocative attitude, it is important for the international community to patiently continue to put pressure on the country.
　北朝鮮が挑戦的な姿勢を改めない以上、国際社会は忍耐強く圧力をかけ続けることが肝要だ。

During a summit meeting in Tokyo on Sunday, Prime Minister Taro Aso and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak reaffirmed that "Pyongyang's nuclear development poses a serious threat and is not acceptable." They also agreed on the importance of bilateral cooperation, as well as working with the United States, in dealing with North Korea, aiming for the "faithful implementation" of a U.N. Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea.
　麻生首相と李明博韓国大統領は２８日の会談で、北朝鮮の核開発は「重大な脅威で容認できない」（麻生首相）と改めて確認した。日米韓が連携し、国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議の「忠実な履行」（李大統領）を目指すことでも一致した。

After North Korea conducted a nuclear test in 2006, the United States lifted its own financial sanctions against North Korea to get the country back to the six-party talks. In addition, the United States continued to take a soft approach by supplying heavy oil and removing the country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
　３年前の核実験後、北朝鮮を６か国協議に復帰させるため、米国は独自の金融制裁を解除した。さらに、重油支援やテロ支援国指定の解除とアメを与え続けた。

However, the process of verifying that Pyongyang's declared nuclear programs had been halted and all its existing nuclear facilities had been disabled was left unfinished.
　しかし、北朝鮮の核計画の申告や核施設の無能力化作業は中途半端で、検証も実現しなかった。

The same mistakes should not be repeated. It is natural not to reward North Korea for returning to the six-party talks and it is indispensable to impose harsh punishment on reckless deeds that ignored the warnings of the international community.
　今回は、その轍(てつ)を踏んではなるまい。協議への復帰に見返りを与えないのは当然であり、国際社会の警告を無視した暴挙には厳罰で臨むことが不可欠だ。

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China's role vital

The success of the U.N. Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea, including cargo inspections, depends on how China deals with North Korea because Beijing has a large influence on Pyongyang through trade and food and energy assistance.
　貨物検査など国連決議の履行の成否は、貿易や食糧・エネルギー支援を通じて北朝鮮に影響力を持つ中国の対応にかかっている。

China also clearly said that it will not allow possession of nuclear weapons by North Korea. Strengthening military deterrence among Japan, South Korea and the United States to counter Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats is not desirable for China.
　中国も、北朝鮮の核保有を認めないと明言している。北朝鮮の核とミサイルに対抗するため、日米韓が軍事的抑止力を高める構図は中国に望ましいものではない。

It is extremely important to continue to urge China to make a "responsible response" to North Korea, including putting pressure on the country.
　中国に対し、北朝鮮への圧力を含む「責任ある対応」を促し続けることが極めて重要となる。

Many observers pointed out that the aim of Pyongyang's missile launches and nuclear tests is not to just strengthen its bargaining chip against the United States, but also are tied to the domestic situation and the need to solidify the regime of the successor to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
　北朝鮮のミサイル発射や核実験の狙いが、単なる対米交渉カードの強化ではなく、金正日総書記の後継体制を固めるという国内事情にある、との見方が多い。

If this is true, it is possible North Korea could turn a deaf ear to warnings by relevant countries and dare to launch longer-range missiles. The international community needs to prepare for a long war.
　事実なら、北朝鮮が今後も、関係国の働きかけに耳を貸さず、より長射程のミサイル発射などに走る可能性が否定できない。国際社会は長期戦の覚悟が必要だ。

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Deeper discussions

Meanwhile, it is important to discuss a new type of consultation in preparation for a future return of North Korea to the six-party talks. If the talks continue as five-party talks without North Korea, as proposed by Lee, such an occasion would be a good opportunity to deepen the discussion for that purpose.
　一方で、北朝鮮がいずれ対話に戻る時に備えて、新たな協議のあり方を検討しておくことが大切だ。李大統領の提唱する日米中韓露の５か国協議が実現すれば、その議論を深める機会となろう。

The framework of the six-party talks itself is reasonable and it should be maintained in terms of the role it affords Japan in handling issues related to North Korea. Furthermore, participating countries should rack their brains for measures to apply the brakes to any future nuclear test by Pyongyang and ways to lead North Korea toward nuclear disarmament .
　５か国と北朝鮮による６か国協議の枠組み自体は合理的であり、日本の発言権を確保する観点からも維持したい。さらに、北朝鮮に二度と核実験を行わせないための歯止め措置や、核廃棄に誘導する方法論に知恵を絞るべきだ。

In Sunday's summit meeting, Aso and Lee also agreed to promote cooperation on assistance for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and on antipiracy efforts off Somalia.
　首脳会談では、アフガニスタン・パキスタン支援やソマリア沖の海賊対策について、日韓協力を推進することでも合意した。

Since the start of Lee's administration in February 2008, the bilateral relationship between Japan and South Korea has strengthened in a wide range of fields. We hope that the two countries will establish a stronger relationship of trust by achieving tangible results.
　昨年２月の李政権発足以来、日韓関係は幅広い分野で強化されてきた。具体的な実績を上げ、より強固な信頼関係を築きたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 29, 2009)
（2009年6月29日01時43分 読売新聞）