Japan Brief/FPCJ, No. 0934
June 17, 2009


UN Security Council Adopts Sanctions Resolution Against North Korea

On June 12 (local time) the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted an additional sanctions resolution against North Korea, which carried out its second nuclear test on May 25.

The adopted resolution strongly condemns the second nuclear test as a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718, which was adopted after North Korea’s first nuclear test in October 2006. The new resolution demands that North Korea not conduct any further nuclear test or ballistic missile launch and announces new additional sanctions against that country, including strengthened inspections of shipping cargo to and from North Korea, an enhanced arms embargo, and prevention of the transfer of financial and other assets that might contribute to nuclear or missile development. The aim of these measures is to stem the flow of funds and materials involved in North Korea’s nuclear and missile development.

According to reports in Japan’s major newspapers, with regard to the inspection of shipping cargo, which became the focal issue of negotiations, Japan and the United States wanted to make such inspections mandatory for member states of the United Nations, but China refused to budge from its more cautious stance. In the end, therefore, the resolution “calls upon” member states to implement inspections. However, reflecting on the ineffectiveness of Security Council Resolution 1718 of 2006, which also included various sanctions, the latest resolution provides a mechanism for the thorough execution of the sanctions, including the establishment of a panel of experts to monitor the state of their implementation.

On June 13 Prime Minister Taro Aso issued a comment on the new resolution, saying, “I highly regard the unanimous adoption of the strongly-worded United Nations Security Council resolution 1874 on North Korea’s nuclear test. This resolution indicates the international community’s strong condemnation of and concerns over the nuclear test. I call upon North Korea to take the firm message from the international community seriously and to comply with this resolution. In addition, I once again strongly urge North Korea to take concrete action that leads to the comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues of concern concerning North Korea, including the abduction, nuclear, and missile issues.” Indicating the Japanese government’s intention, among other things, to quickly enact the legislation necessary for the shipping cargo inspections, the comment added, “Japan, for its part, will swiftly take appropriate steps to render the Security Council resolution effective.” [Unofficial Translation]

In addition, as Japan’s own additional sanctions against North Korea, the cabinet on June 16 decided on measures including a total ban on exports to North Korea. Imports from North Korea are already totally banned.

Newspaper Editorials

Japan’s five main newspapers all carried editorials on the issue around the time of the UN Security Council’s adoption of the resolution.

Under the headline “UN resolution on North: A united front is the only way to deal with crisis,” the Asahi Shimbun editorial of June 12 commented, “The negotiations over the past two weeks have narrowed the differences among the countries concerned in their policy approaches in dealing with Pyongyang. With the six-party talks now stalled, these powers should solidify their new-found unity and work closely together in considering their responses to new developments.” In its June 14 editorial titled “UN Security Council sanctions resolution: Japan must do what it has to do calmly,” the Asahi remarked concerning the enactment of domestic legislation for the implementation of cargo inspections, “The question is to what extent existing legislation can be used to fulfill these objectives and to what extent new legislation is necessary. Japan must study the situation calmly from the point of view of real effectiveness.”

The Mainichi Shimbun editorial (June 12), headlined “North Korea sanctions resolution: Unity needed to increase practical effect,” stated, “The problem is how to make these additional sanctions effective. The establishment of a panel of experts to monitor the enforcement of the sanctions is one means. But as compulsory measures have not been taken, the only way to increase practical effect is for the international community to act in unison. In particular, we hope that China, which maintained a consistently cautious stance toward a strongly-worded resolution, will do its utmost to persuade North Korea.”

The Nikkei editorial (June 12), headlined “Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea must be strictly enforced,” insisted, “The important thing from now on is strict execution. UN member states, including China and Russia, must comply with the sanctions measures and contain North Korea’s repeated provocative acts with a firm response.” It added, “The behavior of China, which is the main supplier of energy and food to North Korea, is especially important. Since it agreed to the draft resolution, China also is required to steadily enforce it. In order to rein in North Korea’s recklessness, we hope that China will show a firm attitude, including sanctions of its own.”

The Sankei Shimbun editorial (June 12), headlined “UN Security Council resolution agreed: Now let’s invoke effective sanctions,” said of the fact that cargo inspections had not been made mandatory, “We are concerned about how far the effectiveness of the sanctions is guaranteed.” Regarding the problem of Japan not being able to conduct cargo inspections in international waters under current legislation, it stated, “With such unsatisfactory legislation, Japan is going to lose the trust of the international community. This situation should be remedied immediately.” In this context, regarding the establishment of a panel of experts to monitor enforcement of the sanctions, the Sankei also declared expectantly, “It will exert pressure on countries that are hesitant about sanctions.”

Under the headline “China key to new resolution on N. Korea,” the Yomiuri Shimbun editorial (June 12) stressed, “The international community must form a firm alliance to rein in North Korea, which aims to unveil a nuclear arsenal as a fait accompli. . . . [For this purpose] China’s involvement is absolutely indispensable, as that nation is North Korea’s largest trading partner and shares a border.” It went on, “While Japan and the United States sought to have stricter sanctions included in the draft resolution, China maintained its cautious stance. The draft resolution, therefore, is the product of a compromise between the three nations. However, its contents should be regarded as a step forward. What is important now is the resolution’s steady implementation.”

(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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