It is outrageous to apply emergency situation law to North Korea issue: JCP Koike

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It is outrageous to apply emergency situation law to North Korea issue: JCP Koike

In the wake of the U.N. Security Council's adoption of resolution 1718 imposing non-military sanctions on North Korea after it conducted a nuclear test, Foreign Minister Aso Taro and Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chair Nakagawa Shoichi said on TV programs aired on October 15 that the current situation can be considered as emergency "situations in areas surrounding Japan," to meet the condition for the government to invoke the Law on Measures to Deal with Situations in Areas Surrounding Japan.

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Koike Akira on a TV program aired on the same day criticized such an argument as "outrageous".

Referring to the U.N. resolution calling on member states to take "cooperative action including through inspection of cargo to and from the DPRK," Nakagawa stated, "If necessary, Japan will take part in inspection of ships" based on the law on "situations in areas surrounding Japan."

Koike said, "The UNSC resolution uses very restrained expressions," and pointed out that it calls on the members of the Six-Party Talks (North Korea, China, South Korea, U.S., Japan, and Russia) to refrain from taking any action that could intensify the tensions.

Criticizing the argument that Japan should assist the U.S. in cargo inspection, Koike emphasized that since the international community is calling for a peaceful resolution to avoid a war, Japan should thoroughly stick to this position.

Nakagawa said, "The current situation can be considered as an emergency 'situation in areas surrounding Japan'," adding that the law can be the legal grounds for Japan to take part in cargo inspections and assist U.S. forces in conducting such activities.

Koike stressed that the current situation is totally different from an emergency situation or state of war that the law presupposed.

"The law provides conditions in which Japan takes part in a joint operation with the U.S. It is outrageous to try to forcibly apply the law to what the international community is to carry out based on U.N.-led cooperation," Koike said.

The law to deal with "situations in areas surrounding Japan" allows Japan to provide U.S. forces with logistic support under a situation in the region that could possibly have a major impact on its peace and security.
- Akahata, October 16, 2006