日朝協議再開へ 拉致被害者の再調査を起点に

The Yomiuri Shimbun March 21, 2014
Ensure Tokyo-Pyongyang talks lead to reinvestigation of abductions
日朝協議再開へ　拉致被害者の再調査を起点に（3月21日付・読売社説）

The latest accord between Japan and North Korea on the resumption of formal intergovernmental talks can safely be described as a step forward.
　対話が正式に再開することは一歩前進だ。

Without fail, Tokyo must take this opportunity to negotiate afresh with Pyongyang toward breaking the protracted impasse over the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s.
　日本人拉致問題で粘り強く交渉し、現状を打開する成果を追求していかねばならない。

During informal talks between foreign ministerial directors of the Japanese and North Korean governments that were held in Shenyang, northeastern China, on Wednesday and Thursday, an agreement was reached to resume formal talks at director general-level consultations in the near future on “issues both sides are interested in.”
　日朝両政府が１９、２０の両日に中国・瀋陽で行った外務省課長級の非公式協議は、「双方が関心を持つ問題」について、局長級の正式な政府間協議を再開することで一致した。

It seems North Korea has begun to soften its stance instead of the pure obstinacy that it has so far shown toward Japan. Symbolic of this is the decision by Pyongyang to allow Kim Eun Gyong, the daughter of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea in 1977, to meet Yokota’s parents in a third country earlier this month. Pyongyang’s next move must be watched closely.
　北朝鮮は、拉致被害者の横田めぐみさんの両親と、めぐみさんの娘、キム・ウンギョンさんとの第三国での面会実現に応じるなど、これまでの頑(かたく)なな姿勢を軟化させているように見える。北朝鮮の出方をさらに見極めたい。

Japan-North Korea intergovernmental talks were held in November 2012 under the administration of then Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. The talks, however, have remained halted since then, as North Korea test-launched a long-range ballistic missile immediately afterward.
　日朝の政府間協議は、野田政権の２０１２年１１月にも行われたが、その直後に北朝鮮が長距離弾道ミサイルを発射したため、中断したままとなっていた。

In the forthcoming talks to be resumed, one of Japan’s official agenda items must be to have North Korea recognize the abduction problem, which it has repeatedly claimed to have settled. The government should do its utmost to realize the immediate repatriation of all abductees, full disclosure of the truth of the abductions and handover of the perpetrators to Japanese authorities.
　再開する協議で日本は、北朝鮮が「解決済み」と主張する拉致問題を正式な議題として認めさせる必要がある。全被害者の即時帰国、拉致の真相究明、実行犯の引き渡しに全力を挙げてもらいたい。

Tokyo, first of all, must have Pyongyang give assurance it will conduct fact-finding reinvestigation of the abduction victims.
　まずは、拉致被害者の再調査の実施を確約させるべきだ。

Reinvestigate as promised

During bilateral intergovernmental talks held in August 2008 in Shenyang, North Korea agreed to set up an expert organization as early as possible to start reinvestigating the whereabouts of and information about the abduction victims. However, Pyongyang has since unilaterally put off such a probe.
　北朝鮮は０８年８月に瀋陽で行った日朝の政府間協議で、専門の組織を早期に設置し、拉致被害者の再調査を開始することで合意していた。だが、その後、再調査を一方的に先送りした。

It has been reported that North Korea, under the current regime of its supreme leader Kim Jong Un, has been in more dire economic straits than before. It is very likely that in the resumption of consultations North Korea will call for the easing of sanctions Tokyo has imposed on Pyongyang as well as economic assistance.
　現在の金正恩政権下の北朝鮮では、経済が一層困窮していると言われる。北朝鮮は、協議の中で日本に制裁緩和や支援を求めてくる可能性が極めて高い。

North Korea, however, has so far repeated hollow responses to the abduction problem. Kenji Furuya, state minister in charge of the abduction issue, has stressed that the Japanese government will never lift the economic sanctions or extend “even a single yen” in economic aid to Pyongyang as long as the abduction victims are unable to return. Furuya is absolutely right to say so.
　だが、北朝鮮はこれまで拉致問題で不誠実な対応を繰り返してきた。古屋拉致問題相は「拉致被害者が戻って来なければ、制裁解除はおろか１円の支援もない」と強調した。その通りである。

In the coming consultations, the Japanese government should maintain its stance of also discussing the North’s nuclear and missile programs, over which this country shares concerns with the United States, South Korea and others, in pursuit of a comprehensive solution to those pending problems in addition to the abduction issue.
　日朝協議では、米国や韓国と懸念を共有する核やミサイル開発なども議論し、包括的な解決を目指す姿勢は堅持すべきである。

The recent surge in international criticism against North Korea over human rights violations may serve as a tailwind for Japan.
　北朝鮮の人権侵害に対する国際的な批判の高まりも、日本にとって追い風となろう。

The U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea presented a report to the Human Rights Council of the international body at its session in Geneva on Monday. It severely condemned North Korea for “crimes against humanity,” including the abduction of Japanese nationals and abuse of political prisoners at detention camps.
　ジュネーブで１７日に開かれた国連人権理事会に、国連の調査委員会は、北朝鮮による日本人拉致や政治犯収容所での虐待などを「人道に対する罪」と厳しく糾弾する報告書を提出した。

North Korea, in response, has reacted strongly, saying it “categorically” denies the report, but the international isolation of Pyongyang has undoubtedly deepened.
　北朝鮮は、これを「全面的に否定する」と反発したが、国際的孤立は深まっている。

It is extremely important for the Japanese government to develop a strategy for boosting pressure on North Korea by continuing to make effective use of the United Nations as a forum.
日本政府は、引き続き国連という場を有効に活用し、北朝鮮への「圧力」も強める戦略を練ることが重要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21, 2014)
（2014年3月21日01時25分  読売新聞）