（゜Д゜）英字新聞
Concrete steps needed to realize N-free world
It is almost impossible to realize nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation merely by chanting the rhetorical slogan of a "nuclear-free world."
How can nuclear-armed China be persuaded to carry out nuclear disarmament? How can North Korea--which has provoked the international community by conducting nuclear and missile tests--be persuaded to give up its nuclear development program?
The government needs to closely cooperate with the United States and other nations to press for concrete steps toward the goal of denuclearization.
On Monday, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone delivered a speech on nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. It followed a speech given by U.S. President Barack Obama on April 5, in which he called for a world without nuclear weapons. Nakasone's speech was aimed at supporting the push for nuclear disarmament.
Listing 11 benchmarks to be met, Nakasone called on nuclear-armed nations to, among other things, freeze their nuclear arms development programs, disclose information on such matters as the number of nuclear warheads they possess, and move to dismantle those warheads.
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China a key concern
In their talks on a new nuclear disarmament treaty, the United States and Russia are believed to be considering not only a reduction in the number of nuclear warheads they possess, but also to limit the number of warhead transportation systems, such as submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
These kind of steps also should be taken by such nations as China, India and Pakistan, although the latter two nations are not party to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
For Japan, what is particularly worrying are China's actions.
Britain, France, Russia and the United States have disclosed information on such matters as the number of nuclear warheads they possess, and have been engaged in arms-reduction efforts. But China has never disclosed such information nor has it taken steps toward reducing its nuclear arms.
There even are signs that China is actually beefing up its nuclear capabilities. It has deployed a new type of nuclear submarine carrying SLBMs at Hainan Island in the South China Sea. It also is said to be developing a new type of SLBM that has a much longer range.
Nakasone has expressed concern about this, saying, "China is not being transparent about its strategic direction and is continuing to modernize its nuclear arsenal."
To avoid a situation in which China's nuclear development is left unchecked, it is necessary to press Beijing to take concrete nuclear disarmament measures, including disclosure of information on its nuclear arms.
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North Korea greatest threat
A far greater threat is North Korea's nuclear development.
Pyongyang has declared it has resumed reprocessing spent nuclear fuel.
Even if steps for nuclear disarmament are taken worldwide, regional peace and security would face a serious crisis if North Korea succeeded in developing even a small nuclear arsenal.
In order to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear program, it is imperative for Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States to stand united on the issue. It is important also for the sanctions imposed on Pyongyang by the U.N. Security Council, such as the freeze on the assets of three North Korean companies, to be implemented to pressure the North to return to the six-party talks on its nuclear program.
Following a trip to China, Prime Minister Taro Aso is scheduled to attend a regular Japan-European Union summit meeting in Prague early next month. The prime minister should make the best possible use of this opportunity to rally the international community to exert strong pressure on North Korea to scrap its nuclear program.
It is almost impossible to realize nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation merely by chanting the rhetorical slogan of a "nuclear-free world."
How can nuclear-armed China be persuaded to carry out nuclear disarmament? How can North Korea--which has provoked the international community by conducting nuclear and missile tests--be persuaded to give up its nuclear development program?
The government needs to closely cooperate with the United States and other nations to press for concrete steps toward the goal of denuclearization.
On Monday, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone delivered a speech on nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. It followed a speech given by U.S. President Barack Obama on April 5, in which he called for a world without nuclear weapons. Nakasone's speech was aimed at supporting the push for nuclear disarmament.
Listing 11 benchmarks to be met, Nakasone called on nuclear-armed nations to, among other things, freeze their nuclear arms development programs, disclose information on such matters as the number of nuclear warheads they possess, and move to dismantle those warheads.
===
China a key concern
In their talks on a new nuclear disarmament treaty, the United States and Russia are believed to be considering not only a reduction in the number of nuclear warheads they possess, but also to limit the number of warhead transportation systems, such as submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
These kind of steps also should be taken by such nations as China, India and Pakistan, although the latter two nations are not party to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
For Japan, what is particularly worrying are China's actions.
Britain, France, Russia and the United States have disclosed information on such matters as the number of nuclear warheads they possess, and have been engaged in arms-reduction efforts. But China has never disclosed such information nor has it taken steps toward reducing its nuclear arms.
There even are signs that China is actually beefing up its nuclear capabilities. It has deployed a new type of nuclear submarine carrying SLBMs at Hainan Island in the South China Sea. It also is said to be developing a new type of SLBM that has a much longer range.
Nakasone has expressed concern about this, saying, "China is not being transparent about its strategic direction and is continuing to modernize its nuclear arsenal."
To avoid a situation in which China's nuclear development is left unchecked, it is necessary to press Beijing to take concrete nuclear disarmament measures, including disclosure of information on its nuclear arms.
===
North Korea greatest threat
A far greater threat is North Korea's nuclear development.
Pyongyang has declared it has resumed reprocessing spent nuclear fuel.
Even if steps for nuclear disarmament are taken worldwide, regional peace and security would face a serious crisis if North Korea succeeded in developing even a small nuclear arsenal.
In order to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear program, it is imperative for Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States to stand united on the issue. It is important also for the sanctions imposed on Pyongyang by the U.N. Security Council, such as the freeze on the assets of three North Korean companies, to be implemented to pressure the North to return to the six-party talks on its nuclear program.
Following a trip to China, Prime Minister Taro Aso is scheduled to attend a regular Japan-European Union summit meeting in Prague early next month. The prime minister should make the best possible use of this opportunity to rally the international community to exert strong pressure on North Korea to scrap its nuclear program.
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