Japan to seek to punish N. Korea over sinking of S. Korean vessel+

TOKYO, May 24 Kyodo -
The Japanese government expressed its readiness Monday to take punitive action
against North Korea in cooperation with South Korea and the United States over
the deadly sinking of a South Korean warship in March, but it is not yet clear
whether they will be able to win support from China.
Japan will also consider possible additional sanctions it could impose
unilaterally on North Korea after an international investigation concluded last
week that a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine caused the sinking in the
Yellow Sea on March 26 and killed 46 sailors.
''We should never tolerate what North Korea did this time...(and) will act to
support South Korea without hesitation,'' Japanese Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama told reporters after holding talks with South Korean President Lee
Myung Bak over the telephone.
As for Japan's own sanctions, Hatoyama did not elaborate but suggested that
Japan may further restrict exchanges of people, goods and capital between Japan
and North Korea.
The Japanese government held a high-level national security meeting on Monday.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano told reporters afterward that Japan
will collaborate with South Korea and the United States, and that if the South
Korean government refers the incident to the U.N. Security Council for punitive
measures against North Korea, Tokyo will fully back the move.
The comment suggested that Japan, currently a nonpermanent member of the UNSC,
may jointly propose a resolution at the council with the United States, one of
its permanent members.
Lee said earlier in the day in Seoul that his government intends to raise the
issue at the United Nations.
North Korea has denied the accusation, warning of ''all-out war'' if Seoul
tries to punish it over the incident.
The focus is now on China, another permanent member of the UNSC with veto power
and a traditional ally of North Korea. Beijing has so far given a relatively
muted reaction to the incident.
Japan and the United States have called on China to join their efforts to deal
harshly with North Korea.
Hirano said at a press conference that Japan wants China to have ''the same
recognition,'' adding that Tokyo will seek Beijing's cooperation at every
opportunity. Japanese, Chinese and South Korean leaders will hold their annual
summit this weekend in South Korea.
Following Lee's statement, Hatoyama and key Cabinet members, including the
foreign and defense ministers, gathered for the Security Council of Japan
meeting, discussing the nation's responses to the alleged attack by North
Korea.
While urging government officials to accelerate their efforts to gather
security information to analyze the current situation, Hatoyama instructed them
to consider possible additional sanctions on North Korea.
Aside from U.N.-led punishment of North Korea over its nuclear program, Japan
has unilaterally implemented a set of sanctions on the country, including bans
on bilateral trade and port calls by North Korean vessels in Japan, over
unresolved issues such as the abduction of Japanese nationals by Pyongyang.
Hatoyama also requested the officials to swiftly enact a bill that would enable
maritime and customs authorities to conduct stricter checks on North Korean
cargo ships. The bill has been deliberated at the House of Councillors, which
is expected to approve it next month.
The Security Council of Japan usually convenes when the government discusses
key security policies as well as deployment of the Self-Defense Forces. It also
meets if there is a need to deal with emergencies.
==Kyodo
2010-05-24 23:23:36


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