Ruling parties want early passage of bill enabling SDF to take part in inspections of North Korean cargo ships

Japan Press Weekly

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

Ruling parties want early passage of bill enabling SDF to take part in inspections of North Korean cargo ships

The ruling Liberal Democratic

and Komei parties are intent on getting the controversial bill enacted within the current session of the Diet to allow the Maritime Self-Defense Force to inspect North Korean cargo ships.

On July 7, the government introduced the bill to the Diet.

The government and the ruling parties are insisting that the legislation is necessary in order to ensure the effectiveness of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874 calling on U.N. member states to implement North Korean cargo ship inspections either within their territory or on the high seas as a part of non-military sanctions against North Korea for conducting nuclear tests.

The bill states that the customs authorities and the Japan Coast Guard carry out inspections of North Korean cargo vessels within Japanese territorial waters or on the high seas on condition that the flag-state's consent or a captain's approval is obtained.

The bill also states that on reasonable grounds, the Maritime Self-Defense Force will be called out for the seaborne policing action under Article 82 of the Self-Defense Force Law.

In explaining "reasonable grounds", the project team of the ruling parties has cited cases in which North Korean cargo ships are heavily armed or that the MSDF warships are navigating near North Korean cargo ships.

The opposition Democratic Party of Japan President Hatoyama Yukio later in the day said his party will agree to an early vote on the bill saying, "The bill states that the Japan Coast Guard will be the main player in the inspection. That's why we won't oppose it. As the Aso Cabinet is on the verge of collapse, it is necessary to pass the bill after immediate discussion."

- Akahata, July 8, 2009

* The controversial bill is likely to be scrapped because passage of motion of censure against Prime Minister Aso Taro in the House of Councilors has stalled parliament.