Japan hopes
neighbors will get tougher on NKorea
TOKYO—Japanese leaders and media have voiced hope for a tougher world
line on North Korea after years of frustration over China and South
Korea's softer approach.
But Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday he was not seeking to topple
the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il by calling for tough
sanctions against the communist state's underground nuclear test.
"It is not that we are aiming for the collapse of the regime," Abe told
reporters the day after North Korea announced it had conducted a nuclear
test for the first time.
"We deem it necessary to make North Korea understand that its situation
will get worse if it maintains the attitude to threaten and challenge
peace and stability in the international community," the premier said.
"Pressure is necessary for that purpose," he added.
The North Korean announcement was seen by some as a vindication for Abe,
who took office two weeks ago after a career built on a hawkish stance
against the communist state.
China, North Korea's closest ally, said the nuclear test hurt relations
between the communist countries. South Korea, meanwhile, warned it may
reverse its "sunshine policy" of engaging its estranged neighbor.
Abe, back from a whirlwind tour of China and South Korea, told his
cabinet earlier Tuesday, "Japan strongly protests against North Korea
and condemns its move, while seeking a rapid response at the UN Security
Council in cooperation with other countries,"
His predecessor Junichiro Koizumi had preferred to engage North Korea
and flew twice to Pyongyang, while Abe had for his part lobbied for
punishment to pressure Pyongyang over its past kidnappings of Japanese
civilians.
Japan's best-selling Yomiuri Shimbun said the idea of drawing North
Korea into the world community -- a policy championed since the late
1990s by South Korea -- had collapsed.
"With the North Korean nuclear test, South Korean President Roh
Moo-Hyun's conciliatory policy toward North Korea has failed," the daily
said.
The liberal Asahi Shimbun said pressure was now on China to back US and
Japanese calls to invoke Chapter VII of the UN charter, which provides
for mandatory sanctions or, as a last resort, military action.
"Put between the international community and North Korea, China faces an
agonizing decision," the Asahi said.
Japan has frequently sparred with its neighbors in the past over policy
toward Pyongyang.
South Korea and China voiced anger in July when Abe, then a top aide to
Koizumi, mused about a pre-emptive strike on North Korea.
But Abe took pains to show there was no gap between him and neighboring
countries on North Korea.
In Beijing, China and Japan issued a joint statement voicing concern
about Pyongyang. In South Korea, President Roh said there was "no
difference" with Abe on the nuclear issue.
The nuclear test "has changed the security paradigm in Northeast Asia,"
said Takehiko Yamamoto, a professor of international politics at Waseda
University in Tokyo.
The crisis provided an unexpected opportunity for Abe to improve ties
with Asian neighbors by changing the focus from issues dealing with
Japan's past imperialism.
The two countries had refused to invite Koizumi due to his repeated
visits to a shrine honoring war dead and war criminals.
But the new-found cooperation between Japan, China and South Korea could
end quickly, said Mitsuyuki Kagami, professor at the International
Center for Chinese Studies at Aichi University.
"If this situation settles down, it is likely that the old problems
would resurface," he said.
The gap would also come to the fore if the United States eventually
chooses to attack North Korea -- an option which China and South Korea
would be sure to oppose.
"Japan, China and South Korea will stay close as long as there are
non-violent sanctions against North Korea," Kagami said.
"But pinpoint military attacks on North Korean nuclear facilities, led
by the United States, would show divisions."—Agencies |
