Welcoming Sanction

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that imposed the tightest sanctions to North Korea. The government of Japan welcomed it as a serious warning against the growing isolated nation. The more international community stand up against North Korea, the happier Japanese nationalist administration feels. The sanction is actually working for the government to take hard-lining policies toward the North.

The resolution unequivocally stated that it was based on the Article 41 in Chapter VII of the UN Charter, imposing on member nations halting financial exchanges related to nuclear or missile development, and inspections of cargoes that were suspected as containing embargoed items. It is also tightening inspection on North Korean diplomats to restrict illicit cash transfer.

Chapter VII defines US sanction with two steps. The first step is economic sanction like above based on Article 41. Article 42, as the second step, prescribes that if the measures in Article 41 do not work, the council can apply further action including “operations by air, sea or land forces of Members of United Nations.” Regarded as the tightest measures in Article 41, the new resolution actually meant that UN is located one step before military sanctions.

The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, released on Thursday a statement that welcomed the resolution as strong message to North Korea, and required the nation to refrain from further intimidation. In the discussion at the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, Abe emphasized the importance for member nations, supposedly indicating China, to comply with the resolution.

Taking hard policy toward North Korea is one of the characteristics of Abe. He established his status as a leader by standing firmly against North Korea, namely in the negotiation of returning abductees from the North. If UN, or the United States, is stepping forward to military operation, it will encourage the discussion in the Liberal Democratic Party over having the capability of preemptive attack on enemy’s land. Abe may well be considering attack on North Korea as an exercise of individual self-defense, along with possible UN military operation.

The most important point for Japan, however, is what kind of deals had been discussed between US and China. It has been unlikely for China to accept stricter sanctions against North Korea, to which China has crucial interest. The reason why China accepted that hard resolution is not clear. The Japanese hope United States not to have compromised with China over Senkaku issue between China and Japan.