Shii protests North Korean military provocation

Japan Press Weekly

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

Shii protests North Korean military provocation

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on November 24 issued a statement on a North Korean attack on South Korea. The full text of the statement is as follows:

Regarding the issue of North Korea's missile attack on a South Korean island

November 24, 2010

Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair

Shii Kazuo

North Korea on November 23 fired artillery shells at South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island and engaged in combat with South Korean forces. During this incident, two South Korean soldiers were killed. Furthermore, some civilian islanders were injured and 1,600 were urgently evacuated.

An indiscriminate missile attack on the island where civilians live is unlawful behavior which violates not only the armistice agreement over the Korean War but also the U. N. Charter and other North-South agreements in which North Korea itself is party to. The Japanese Communist Party condemns North Korea for its act of military provocation.

North Korea explained that the latest action was a counterattack against South Korea's military training exercise and firing within "North Korea's territorial waters." The two countries have different claims on the border on the sea. However, to use that as a reason for the armed attack can not be accepted. Moreover, North Korea itself acknowledges that the sovereignty over the attacked Yeonpyeong Island and the water route to the island belongs to South Korea. The North Korean explanation, therefore, is unpersuasive.

The JCP strongly calls on North Korea to take responsibility for its attack and for the damage caused by the attack, and to not repeat such provocative behavior.

The JCP demands that all the parties concerned, including South Korea, resolve the issue through diplomatic and political efforts in order to not have the incident create a further increase in military tension and another military conflict.

- Akahata, November 25, 2010