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Japan Resolute Against Leniency for North Korea

When it comes to a United Nations resolution denouncing regional neighbor North Korea in the wake of the Stalinist dictatorship?s recent missile tests, Japan is remaining firm on tough wording, with the foreign minister in Tokyo saying ?To compromise because of one country which has veto power, even though most other countries support us, sends the wrong message. We can`t alter our stance.? Taro Aso?s comments came as Security Council member China voiced its opposition to taking a harsh stance with Beijing ally North Korea.

Japan has much to fear from the nuclear-armed, oppressive regime in Pyongyang. North Korea has in the past kidnapped Japanese nationals, and previous missile tests by the North have resulted in missiles flying over the main island of Honshu and landing in the Sea of Japan. The current resolution before the Security Council needs nine of fifteen votes to pass, and on Japanese TV Mr. Aso said that a fourteen to one vote, with China the only dissenter, wasn?t out of the question. ?China will be backed into a corner.?

Japan is openly worried about the improvements North Korea has made in terms of missile technology since it imposed a moratorium on itself for missile tests in 1999 (following previous tests by the communist country, which raised international tensions in 1998), and then subsequently extended the moratorium in 2002 in an agreement with Japan. In related news, on Saturday a guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy docked in Japan. The U.S. said the visit was pre-planned, and a routine stop.