Bill to inspect North Korean cargo set for submission to Diet

Friday 03rd July, 04:11 AM JST

TOKYO —

The government plans to submit to the Diet on Tuesday a bill to inspect cargo carried by ships and boats sailing to and from North Korea, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said Thursday. At an executive meeting of the House of Representatives steering committee, Kawamura said the government plans to approve the bill at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, lawmakers said.

The bill is aimed at enabling the Japan Coast Guard to inspect North Korean vessels suspected of carrying nuclear- or missile-related items in line with a U.N. Security Council resolution adopted in response to North Korea’s nuclear test in May. Under conventional laws, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces can inspect cargo on the high seas only in a situation in which Japan is under armed attack, or in a situation that could develop into a direct armed attack against Japan if left unaddressed.

Kyodo

› Login to comment

8 Comments

OssanAmerica at 06:59 AM JST - 3rd July

or in a situation that could develop into a direct armed attack against >Japan if left unaddressed.

Actually, I think in the long view, the JMSDF failing to inspect suspected NKorean vessels falls into this category.
some14some at 07:10 AM JST - 3rd July

Let U.N. handle this issue, Japan's involvement (in any form) will destabilize regional peace.
Shumatsu_Samurai at 07:16 AM JST - 3rd July

Let U.N. handle this issue, Japan's involvement (in any form) will destabilize regional peace.

If you didn't notice, the UN doesn't have a military. It's up to countries to enforce the sanctions, and Japan has every right to participate. If a North Korean ship was searched without permission, Pyongyang would throw a temper-tantrum regardless of who did it.
some14some at 07:31 AM JST - 3rd July

If you didn't notice, the UN doesn't have a military

It has, basically, only what military force its constituent nations elect to "loan" it...although Japan does not 'loan' its SDF.
smithinjapan at 09:14 AM JST - 3rd July

NK launched for more missiles just a little while ago. Clearly, no threats, nor actions, Japan is taking are meeting with the slightest bit of concern by the fools in the NK regime. Japan's going to jump the gun and inspect some fishing boat, then NK will actually argue they have grounds for making good on their threats (of war if inspected).

Ossan: "Actually, I think in the long view, the JMSDF failing to inspect suspected NKorean vessels falls into this category."

Not if it helps LEAD to war.
Gaijinocchio at 09:25 AM JST - 3rd July

Well someone has to inspect the cargo aboard these ships for weapons. Can't always expect the U.S. to do things no one else wants to do, now can we?
OssanAmerica at 12:13 PM JST - 3rd July

Let U.N. handle this issue, Japan's involvement (in any form) will >destabilize regional peace

Perhaps you could explain the reasoning behind this masterpiece of rational thought?

It has, basically, only what military force its constituent nations >elect to "loan" it...although Japan does not 'loan' its SDF.

Yes it does. Japan's SDF has particiopated in several UN PKOs over the years.
OssanAmerica at 12:13 PM JST - 3rd July

Ossan: "Actually, I think in the long view, the JMSDF failing to inspect >suspected NKorean vessels falls into this category." Not if it helps LEAD to war.

Yes, but the whole purpose of the UN resolution is to PREVENT war.