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 Japan Brief |
| 【Japan Brief】North Korea Conducts Missile Launch |
Japan Brief / FPCJ, No. 0918
April 6, 2009
North Korea Conducts Missile Launch
According to newspaper reports, in accordance with its advance notification, North Korea on April 5 launched a long-distance ballistic missile that it claimed was an artificial satellite launcher. After passing over the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan, the missile headed out over the Pacific Ocean. In preparation for an emergency, the Japanese government had deployed interceptor missiles and Aegis-equipped destroyers. However, no debris fell on Japan as had been feared, so the Self-Defense Forces were not required to intercept the missile. On the same day North Korea announced that its satellite launch had been successful, but the US military reported that no object had entered orbit and indicated that the launch had been a failure.
Beforehand, Japan, the United States and South Korea had repeatedly called on North Korea to halt the launch, saying that even if it were an artificial satellite as Pyongyang claimed, it would still be a violation of the 2006 United Nations Security Council resolution requiring North Korea to “suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program.” China and Russia had also urged Pyongyang to exercise self-restraint. Furthermore, Japan’s House of Representatives and House of Councillors had unanimously adopted a resolution calling on North Korea to refrain from carrying out the launch.
Despite these requests from countries concerned, however, North Korea defiantly went ahead with the launch. The Japanese government responded on the same day by issuing a statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary and strongly protesting to North Korea. The statement said, “As surrounding countries, including Japan, continue to be buffeted by nuclear and missile threats, it must be said that this is a serious act of provocation in terms of security. This act violates United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1695 and 1718, violates the Japan-DPRK [North Korea] Pyongyang Declaration, and also is inconsistent with the joint statement of the six-party talks. Furthermore, it runs counter to efforts, including the six-party talks, to ensure the peace and stability of the Northeast Asia region.”
In addition, the Japanese government entered the final stage of adjustments toward extending its current unilateral economic sanctions against North Korea for another year and adding more measures, including a total ban on exports to North Korea.
Meanwhile, at the request of Japan, the United Nations Security Council decided to convene an emergency meeting in the afternoon of April 5 (early April 6 Japan time) to discuss its response to this issue.
Newspaper Editorials
In their editorials on April 6 Japan’s five main national newspapers all strongly criticized North Korea’s missile launch, calling it “a reckless and dangerous provocation that threatens peace and stability” (Yomiuri Shimbun); an “outrageous act, which blatantly ignored calls from the international community” (Asahi Shimbun); “a threat disguised as the peaceful use of outer space” (Mainichi Shimbun); “a grave challenge to world peace and security” (Sankei Shimbun); and “an adventurist act that spreads the threat to surrounding countries” (The Nikkei). All of the newspapers called for a unified international response to the problem.
Under the headline “UNSC must be tough with North Korea,” the Yomiuri editorial said very critically of North Korea, “North Korea insists that every country has the right to use space for peaceful purposes. However, that country’s concurrent development of nuclear technology and missiles are all essential parts needed to complete a nuclear missile.” The Yomiuri added that the United Nations Security Council should draw in China and Russia, which have the power of veto, and unite in reaffirming the thorough execution of Security Council Resolution 1718, which demanded that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons and suspend its missile development and also imposed sanctions on that country.
The Asahi editorial, headlined “North’s missile launch: Japan must work diplomatically for a united front,” referred to North Korea’s involvement in the nuclear development of Iran, Syria, and Pakistan, saying, “Technologies and materials used for producing nuclear weapons and missiles are flowing around the world. North Korea is part of this grim reality. This situation must be brought to an end as quickly as possible.” Adding that “unilateral action on the part of Japan, no matter what form it took, would have only a limited effect,” it suggested to the Japanese government, “Rather, Japan should place priority on international unity in dealing with this secretive regime and focus its diplomatic efforts on its standing as nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council. Tokyo should also work closely with the Obama administration in responding to North Korea’s provocative acts. The Japanese government should seriously pursue these paths before anything else.”
Headlined “North Korea’s missile launch clearly broke the rules,” the Mainichi similarly strongly censured North Korea. It commented, “North Korea has spread the threat to peace. That is evident just from missiles alone. During the East-West Cold War the only countries that possessed ballistic missiles were the United States and the then Soviet Union. After the end of the Cold War, the number shot up rapidly to about 50 countries. North Korea is thought to be the ringleader behind this proliferation of missiles.” The Mainichi went on, “Japan, which participates in the UN Security Council as a nonpermanent member, should cooperate with the United States and endeavor to bridge the gap that exists with China and Russia. At the same time, we want China and Russia to respond flexibly in building a consensus within the Security Council. A conspicuous split in the Security Council would only benefit North Korea.”
The Sankei editorial, titled “North Korea’s missile launch: impose tough sanctions, build a deterrable defense capability,” called for a strengthening of sanctions against North Korea both by the international community and by Japan itself. Posing the question of the desirable form of Japan’s security and defense, the Sankei also noted, “Japan’s defense capability has been based on the concept of exclusive defense, but this means only responding after an attack.” Advocating a further buildup of defense capability, it continued, “In the present situation, Japan does not have the ability to prevent a missile launch by North Korea by attacking the enemy base. How much defense capability would be necessary for that purpose? Is it all right to continue without that intention and ability? If this debate continues to be put off, we will not be able to protect the lives and security of the Japanese people.”
Under the headline “Security Council must contain North Korea’s adventurism,” The Nikkei editorial emphasized the importance of the international community acting in unison. Regarding the fact that China and Russia are thought to be against the Security Council taking tough measures, The Nikkei asked, “Don’t these countries realize that North Korea’s missiles will lead to their own security being threatened? If the Security Council fails to build a diplomatic net around North Korea’s acts, it will encourage adventurism. What the Security Council is required to do is to contain that adventurism and take steps to press for a policy change in that country. For this purpose, action not only by the Security Council but also by related countries will be important.”
(Copyright 2009 Foreign Press Center / Japan)
*Japan Brief is an original production of the Foreign Press Center, Japan and does not represent the views of the Government of Japan or of any other body.
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-【Press Briefing Report】Prof. Masao Okonogi, Keio Univ.: North Korean Issues and the New U.S. Regime(2009-03-10) |
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