Japan Press Weekly

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2010 November 24 - 30 [NORTH KOREA]

JCP calls for diplomatic and political efforts in response to North Korea’s missile attack

Japanese Communist Party lawmakers on November 25 stressed that the issue of North Korea’s shelling of South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island should be resolved through diplomatic and political efforts in both chambers’ budget committee meetings.

At a House of Representatives committee meeting, JCP representative Kasai Akira said that North Korea’s behavior is unlawful and simply unacceptable because it violates the Korean War Cease-Fire Agreement, the U.N. Charter, the North-South non-aggression agreement, and other agreements between the two countries. He criticized North Korea for indiscriminately firing missiles at the island in which civilians reside, and which South Korea has controlled since North Korea and South Korea agreed to a cease fire 57 years ago.

In addition, Kasai cited the fact that South Korea is responding in a calm manner while being outraged at North Korea’s attack and that U.S. Special Representative for North Korean Policy Stephen Bosworth said that a multilateral diplomatic approach is the only realistic solution to this issue.

Kasai went on to say, “It is necessary to avoid any escalation of military tension and to solve this issue through diplomatic and political efforts.”

Foreign Minister Maehara Seiji replied, “The government will make efforts focusing on solving the issue in a peaceful manner.”

JCP Dietmember Inoue Satoshi at a House of Councilors Budget Committee meeting said that it is significant that the South Korean government described North Korea’s latest action as a “military provocation” rather than defining it as “military action”, and gave orders to relevant departments to prevent the situation from becoming more serious.

Prime Minister Kan Naoto said, “Using words with repressed tone shows that the South Korean government addresses this issue in a calm and determined manner.”

Inoue said that in order to solve this issue through diplomatic and political efforts, it is important for the Japanese government to appeal to the international community, and urged the government to call on relevant countries to hold a meeting to discuss this issue.

Maehara said, “The government will encourage collaboration between Japan, the United States, and South Korea over this issue and will also discuss the issue with China and Russia. If needed, we will appeal to the international community at the U.N.”
- Akahata, November 26, 2010