Japan Press Weekly

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2009 May 20 - 26 [NORTH KOREA]

Furies over North Korea’s nuclear test

Peace organizations and individuals have expressed anger in many places throughout Japan, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki, against the underground nuclear testing which North Korea conducted on May 25.

Hiroshima
At the Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, atomic-bomb survivors (Hibakusha) and other peace-loving citizens held a sit-in protest against the testing.

The Hiroshima Council against A and H Bombs (Hiroshima Gensuikyo) stated, “The North Korean outrageous action is reversing the wheel of history, and will only encourage the pro-Yasukuni force to justify their call for a military response. Disagreements should be settled only by peaceful, non-military means.

The Hiroshima A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization (Hiroshima Hidankyo) said, “Let us build up a call for ‘a world without nuclear weapons’ and stop North Korea’s dangerous moves!”

A-bomb survivor (Hibakusha) Tsuboi Sunao said, “U.S. President Obama called for a world without nuclear weapons. The North Korean nuclear test runs counter to this growing momentum for a nuclear-free world.”

Nagasaki
A person who lost his family members in the A-bombing said, “Human beings and nuclear weapons cannot coexist. As long as nuclear weapons exist, peace will never come.”

Hibakusha Taniguchi Sumiteru said, “Maybe, North Korea is checking out U.S. President Obama who replaced Bush. I worry about how the United States will respond.”

Japan Gensuikyo
Taka Hiroshi, secretary-general of the Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo), published a statement that reads:

“The world is moving forward toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and many countries have begun making efforts to this end. North Korea’s nuclear testing runs counter to these global efforts. North Korea must immediately cancel its nuclear development and testing program, and return to the Six Party Talks on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”

Hiroshima Mayor
Akiba Tadatoshi called a news conference and said he will send a letter to North Korea as soon as possible in protest against the nuclear testing.

He said he is worried about nuclear proliferation, arguing that North Korea’s “provocative act will accelerate the move of nuclear wannabes to establish their own programs.”

Nagasaki Mayor
Tanoue Tomihisa published a comment.

It denounces the nuclear testing for “hampering the increasing move to seek ‘a world without nuclear weapons’ with the advent of U.S. President Obama, and for blackmailing based on malice against the international community.”

Zenroren
Odagawa Yoshikazu, secretary general of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), published a statement demanding that North Korea return to the Six Party Talks and that the Japanese government make every effort to settle this issue peacefully through dialogue.

P.E.N.
The Japan P.E.N. Club issued a protest statement.

It calls on North Korea to “immediately stop its nuclear weapons development and move forward by employing peaceful means toward solving the various difficulties the world faces.”