JCP Kasai urges government to deal with North Korea using non-military and diplomatic means

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP Kasai urges government to deal with North Korea using non-military and diplomatic means

Japanese Communist Party representative Kasai Akira on June 17 questioned the government at a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee meeting regarding how Japan is responding to North Korea's recent nuclear test. He demanded that the government take action within the framework of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874 calling for non-military and diplomatic efforts to be taken against North Korea.

Pointing out that the UNSC Resolution is a unanimous message of the international community condemning in strongest terms North Korea's nuclear test, Kasai asked the government to explain if it is going to implement UNSC Resolution 1874, stating that it will facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue under Article 41of the U.N. Charter.

Foreign Minister Nakasone Hirofumi said that the UNSC resolution was an expression of the international community's determination to collectively respond to North Korea's provocative action and force it to refrain from any further provocative actions, further isolating the country.

Kasai then stated, "Notwithstanding the UNSC resolution requiring unanimous international efforts through non-military and diplomatic means against North Korea, the Japanese government was arguing that the Self-Defense Forces should be used to inspect North Korea's ships and some in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party maintained that Japan needs to make preemptive strikes against enemy bases."

"These arguments will just help intensify military tension between Japan and North Korea and may lead to more saber rattling on both sides. Apparently, any actions by Japan that will exacerbate the situation go against the unanimous efforts agreed on by the international community," Kasai emphasized.

Nakasone acknowledged that military means is not allowed at this time.

Ishii Masafumi, Assistant to the Foreign Minister, stated that the latest UNSC Resolution calls on member States to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue and to refrain from any actions that might increase tensions.

Stressing that Japan should refrain from any actions that might aggravate tensions, Kasai demanded that the government employ all possible diplomatic efforts so that North Korea will be encouraged to rejoin the Six-Party Talks.