Making North Korea abandon its nuclear and ballistic missiles completely is essential for regional security. To realize this, the solidarity of the Japan-U.S. alliance will be tested.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the United States and held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. They confirmed their close cooperation regarding the U.S.-North Korea summit, planned to take place by early June.
While maintaining maximum pressure on North Korea, Japan and the United States should strive to force Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and missile programs in a verifiable and irreversible manner. This is the main pillar of what the two leaders agreed on.
War's end not main goal
Abe emphasized that "our approach has proven to be successful and right." Trump responded, saying that Japan and the United States are in accord in their opinions.
Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, after repeatedly carrying out military provocations, has changed tack to take an offensive of dialogue, partly because he has been driven to do so by the powerful economic sanctions and military pressure placed on Pyongyang.
Maintaining pressure on North Korea until Pyongyang clearly changes its policy and abandons its nuclear weapons and missiles: The fact that the leaders of both Japan and the United States sent this message to the world must be of undeniable significance.
A matter of concern is that Trump, in too much of a hurry to show results to his supporters at home, may become too eager regarding the negotiations with North Korea.
Trump said "I look forward to" meeting with Kim, and expressed his willingness over ending the Korean War, which remains in a state of armistice. He also unveiled that the United States has had direct talks at "extremely high levels" with North Korea.
U.S. Secretary of State nominee and CIA Director Mike Pompeo is said to have made a secret visit to North Korea, as a special envoy for Trump, and met with North Korean leader Kim. He seemed to exchange opinions with Kim over such matters as the agenda for the summit talks, the date and time, and the site.
At the State Department, which should be responsible for foreign affairs under normal conditions, the top post and those of many other senior officials remain unfilled. Doesn't this pose the risk of impediments under the current circumstances, in which there are few experts with ample experience of negotiating with North Korea? Anxiety cannot be dispelled.
As of now, North Korea has only shown its will to "denuclearize the Korean Peninsula." The issue of what to do with its ballistic missiles also remains untouched.
A "declaration of the end" of the Korean War will probably end up being a political message, but it will not lead to lessening of the military threat. On the contrary, it is likely to bring about further destabilization of the region, by giving North Korea a pretext to demand the withdrawal or reduction of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea.
Eliminate missile threat
Under the terms of the past Agreed Framework between the United States and North Korea and the six-party talks, Pyongyang was rewarded for agreeing to dismantle its nuclear program in stages. However, these events were merely used by North Korea to buy time and could not prevent its nuclear development.
Taking an optimistic view and making easy bargains are big no-no's when dealing with North Korea, a nation that has completely broken its international promises.
Preparing a meticulous strategy in advance is a cardinal rule when engaging in negotiations with North Korea. Explaining this to Trump is also one of Abe's important roles.
A pressing issue is to work out the concrete details of the denuclearization process that will be required of North Korea between Japan and the United States.
It will be vital to develop a road map outlining in what order procedures such as full-scale inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the removal of nuclear material and related equipment from North Korea to another country will move ahead. Easing sanctions and other incentives also should be considered after carefully determining if real progress is being made.
Japan and the United States must speed up practical coordination on these issues.
It is also crucial to scrupulously compare and adjust positions at various levels when it comes to dealing with North Korea's ballistic missiles.
As long as North Korea only stops developing and gives up its intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, its short- and medium-range missiles are preserved intact. The threat these missiles pose to Japan and South Korea could remain.
Japan needs to repeatedly convey this concern to the United States.
Abe asked Trump to bring up the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea when the U.S. president holds talks with Kim. Trump pledged he would raise this issue and said the United States will "do its best" for Japan.
Bring abductees home
Placing the abduction issue on the agenda of the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting is extremely meaningful. North Korea's response to the abductions, a state crime, has been the epitome of insincerity. It unilaterally canceled a reinvestigation of the abductees.
Uncovering the entire truth about the abductions and bringing back all the victims: To translate this goal into reality, Kim must be pressed to make a decision that changes the stance North Korea has taken thus far.
The government should closely watch North Korea's moves, carefully deal with this issue and ensure it does not get stabbed in the back.
Japan's basic plan is to find a comprehensive solution to the nuclear, missile and abduction issues. As long as that condition cannot be met, diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea will not be normalized and Tokyo will provide no aid to Pyongyang. The government needs to ensure Kim is made well aware of this by using channels including the United States.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 19, 2018)
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