Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted the fourth round of nuclear test on January 6. It is a violent act that occurred early of the New Year. It was performed without ‘prior announcement’ to China, for instance, as well as any other earlier indication. It has surprised and impacted on the world. We, the New Socialist Party of Japan, oppose development and testing of nuclear weapons of every nation.


WILL SANCTIONS WORK TO SETTLE PROBPLEM?


Path to Isolation Opted


The fourth test differs from the previous ones. Firstly, it does not link with a launch of a satellite, and secondly, it was assumed to be a ‘hydrogen’ test or something developed, enhanced from the previous atomic models, and thirdly, no previous message was made to a friendly neighbor, China. The test was beyond anticipation of the rest of the world.


The fourth test constitutes reverse to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation efforts that the whole world is pursuing, and therefore it is not acceptable. The test indicates that DPRK has opted for a path to isolation and may impede a solution of the problems of the Korean Peninsula. The attempt will consolidate the triple alliance of Japan-US-Republic of Korea and accelerate military tension.


A nuclear test must be condemned, but, on the other hand, countries in the world, including Japan and the United States, claim to take a new sanction and containment policy against DPRK: they attempt to build up an international network of sanction and containment. Will this kind of measure work to settle the problem? Everyone knows it is quite unlikely that DPRK will voluntarily renounce its nuclear program on account of the international siege to go to a negotiation table.


Change Hostile Policy


The super-Super Power, the United States, should engage in the process to a solution with greater tolerance. The Korean Peninsula has been divided in two on the north latitude of 38 degree line by the ‘ceasefire agreement’ reached in July, 1953, and the situation has been kept at war up to today.


DPRK has demanded for long time the United States to turn the ceasefire agreement into a peace treaty. Historically, the US has been responsible for ending the war situation on the peninsula. The US should change the hostile policy to DPRK endorsed by its military power to sit on the negotiation table.


A possible way can be resumption of the six-party talk or a bilateral, direct negotiation. Simultaneously, DPRK should suspend the nuclear program and commit in sincere negotiation to conclude a peace treaty.


Japan should have its own diplomacy


The government of Japan has protested and announced a sanction policy to respond to the test, and in both of the two Houses was adopted a resolution of condemnation. However, it is obvious that a repetition of the same action as those taken in the past will not work. The Abe government must immediately stop hasty war commitment propaganda and end discriminative, chauvinist policies against Koreans living in Japan, taking advantage of the test.


Japan is a sole nation to be atomic-bombed in the Asia-Pacific War. We oppose production and test of nuclear arms. It has experienced a severe nuclear accident which hit the Fukushima-Daiichi power plant in March, 2011. Japan, as an atomic-bombed nation, should take initiative in eliminating all types of nuclear weapons and dismantling programs to develop nuclear electricity. The Japanese government should review its policy to follow the US double-standard and depend on the US nuclear umbrella.



January 26, 2016