[/ja]Japan Brief/FPCJ, No. 0928
May 26, 2009


North Korea Conducts Second Nuclear Test

On May 25, North Korea announced that it had conducted an underground nuclear test, its second following the one carried out in October 2006. Japan’s main newspapers all reported the nuclear test as their top news.

Following North Korea’s first nuclear test in October 2006, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1718 calling on that country to suspend its nuclear and missile development. In April of this year North Korea, in violation of that resolution, defiantly launched a long-range ballistic missile. The UN Security Council responded by unanimously adopting a presidential statement condemning North Korea’s action. According to reports in Japan’s main newspapers, North Korea reacted strongly to that condemnation and on April 29, in a statement by the North Korean Foreign Ministry’s press officer, gave notice that it would conduct a nuclear test unless the UN Security Council apologized.

In response to North Korea’s second nuclear test on May 25, the Japanese government issued a statement by the Prime Minister on the same day saying, “A nuclear test by North Korea is totally unacceptable, as it constitutes a grave threat to Japan’s security as well as seriously undermines the peace and security of Northeast Asia and the international community. . . . Thus Japan lodges a serious protest against North Korea, and strongly condemns its nuclear test. Such action clearly violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 of 14 October 2006 and represents a grave challenge to NPT (Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) regime.” The Japanese government requested Russia, the current presiding country of the United Nations Security Council, to convene an emergency meeting.

Following Japan’s request, the UN Security Council commenced an emergency meeting in the evening of May 25 (early morning of May 26 Japan time). According to Japanese newspaper reports, the member countries condemned North Korea’s nuclear test as a clear violation of Security Council resolutions and agreed on the need for a new resolution. In addition, Russia, the presiding country, issued press remarks strongly criticizing North Korea’s nuclear test and announcing that the council would immediately start work on a new resolution.

In a press conference held in the morning of May 26 Minister for Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone commented, “Since this is a very serious situation that damages regional peace and stability, Japan will actively take the initiative in formulating this resolution. Despite the strongly worded presidential statement issued last time [April], North Korea has violated the resolution again, so this time it is necessary to adopt an even tougher resolution.”

Newspaper Editorials

Japan’s five main national newspapers all took up the issue of North Korea’s second nuclear test in their May 26 editorials. They severely criticized Pyongyang, saying, for example, that “North Korea’s action is quite undesirable not only for Japan’s security, but also for global peace and security” (Asahi Shimbun) and “This is a grave challenge that directly threatens the peace and stability of the world” (Sankei Shimbun), and also emphasized that the international community must tighten its net of encirclement around North Korea.

Under the headline “N. Korea must suffer consequences for N-test,” the Yomiuri Shimbun editorial expressed its hope that the Japanese government would fulfill an active role in finding a way out of the latest situation. It stated, “Three years ago, Japan, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, led adoption of the sanctions resolution against North Korea along with the United States, Britain, and France. Likewise, as a non-permanent member again, the country should lead efforts to have the Security Council adopt a resolution to toughen sanctions against North Korea.” The Yomiuri also noted the need for international collaboration, saying, “. . . this does not mean that denuclearization of North Korea, a common goal shared by Japan, China, South Korea, Russia, and the United States, is lost. It is a pressing issue for the five countries not to accept North Korea’s ongoing possession of nuclear weapons as a fact and to take effective measures to end it.” In particular, the Yomiuri remarked that China, on which North Korea depends economically, and the United States, with which Pyongyang wants direct dialogue, have important roles to play.

The Asahi editorial, titled “Pyongyang’s nuke test: US, China must work together to stop N. Korea,” expressed hope for cooperation between China and the United States toward the prevention of nuclear proliferation, saying, “With the current unraveling of the global economy, strategic cooperation between the United States and China has grown more important than ever. And what better use could there be for such cooperation than in bringing stability to the Korean Peninsula?” In addition, to the Japanese government, the Asahi requested, “As a victim of nuclear attacks in 1945, Japan is committed to making the world nuclear-free. Japan can only recognize every North Korean nuclear test as a grave threat. The yet-unsolved abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents are also a lingering problem. . . . the least Japan can do is to keep encouraging the United States and China to cooperate with each other. At the same time, Japan should work together with South Korea to actively support efforts that will help to secure peace in the region.”

The Mainichi Shimbun editorial, headlined “Another nuclear test by North Korea: UN Security Council must adopt firm stance,” emphasized the roles of the United States and China in finding a way out of the situation. To the United States, bearing in mind the fact that some observers suggest Washington will tacitly permit North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons, it requested, “US President Barack Obama has indicated a policy of aiming for the ultimate abolition of nuclear weapons. If he really intends to do so, then first of all we want him to strive toward achieving the specific goal of completely eliminating the North Korean nuclear threat.” As for China, the Mainichi commented, “North Korea cannot survive without food and energy assistance from China. . . . At present, only China can play a persuasive role.” The Mainichi concluded, therefore, that the best approach for Japan was to respond calmly and cooperate with the United States, China, and South Korea.

Under the headline “Another nuclear test by North Korea: Adopt firm sanctions and prepare for smaller warheads,” the Sankei editorial drew attention to the background that brought about the latest situation, saying that “US policy toward North Korea has strayed off course” and “China and Russia have been uncooperative.” It urged these countries to adopt a responsible stance and also noted that North Korea’s second nuclear test “raised a serious problem for Japan’s defense.” The Sankei suggested, for example, that “As part of its self-defense forces, Japan should build up a deterrent capability, including the ability to preemptively destroy nuclear and missile facilities in North Korea” and that “It is also necessary to strengthen the Japan-US alliance. . . . At the very least, the Japanese government must verify the extent to which nuclear deterrence is functioning.” The Sankei suggested that a study on a desirable stance for Japan’s defense and security should be conducted in parallel with discussions about sanctions.

The Nikkei editorial, headlined “UN Security Council must adopt tough sanctions after North Korea’s nuclear test,” noted that “the ambiguous attitude of China and Russia, which hesitated when it came to imposing real economic sanctions” had damaged the effectiveness of the 2006 UN Security Council resolution and encouraged North Korea to “run wild.” It went on, “This time it is necessary for the international community to make North Korea understand that provocative and threatening behavior just does not work.” The Nikkei also stated, “While it is not necessary to shut off the road to dialogue, the international community should not adopt a conciliatory approach on condition of Pyongyang’s participation in discussions. The important thing is for the international community to be united in showing North Korea that provocation only deepens isolation.”

(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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