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韓国哨戒艦沈没 やはり「北」の魚雷攻撃だった

The Yomiuri Shimbun (May. 22, 2010)
Evidence overwhelming of N. Korea torpedo attack
韓国哨戒艦沈没 やはり「北」の魚雷攻撃だった(5月21日付・読売社説)

A multinational investigation has determined that the sinking on March 26 of a South Korean naval warship in the Yellow Sea was caused by a North Korean torpedo.
On Thursday, South Korea's Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group released the results of its investigation into the incident, concluding that an underwater blast caused by a North Korean homing torpedo tore the Cheonan patrol vessel in two in waters west of the Korean Peninsula.
 朝鮮半島の西側の黄海で、3月26日に起きた韓国海軍哨戒艦「天安」の沈没事件について、韓国の軍・民間合同調査団は「北朝鮮の魚雷攻撃」によるものだった、と結論づける調査報告を発表した。

In a swift reaction to the release of the report, Pyongyang called the results "a fabrication," warning that any retaliation would prompt it to "respond with various forceful actions, including all-out war."
 名指しされた北朝鮮は、ただちに「捏造(ねつぞう)だ」と反発し、制裁に対しては「全面戦争を含む各種の強硬措置で応える」と恫喝(どうかつ)した。

If circumstances take a turn for the worse, North Korea might resort to further flagrant provocations. Japan, the United States and South Korea must work together closely to prevent the reclusive state from behaving recklessly. China and Russia should also act in concert with the three nations.
 今後の展開次第で、北朝鮮が危険な挑発行為に出る恐れもある。日米韓の3か国は連携を強め、これを断固阻止する決意で臨まなければならない。中露両国も、これに呼応すべきだ。

The team of investigators included specialists from the United States, Britain, Australia and Sweden.
 調査団には、米、英、豪、スウェーデンの専門家も加わった。

Fragments recovered from the waters where the Cheonan went down--components of a torpedo propulsion device, including a propeller--provided all the evidence needed to determine what happened. The fragments in question matched the schematics of a torpedo included in introductory brochures provided to foreign countries by North Korea for export purposes.
 「北朝鮮の犯行」を裏付ける決め手となったのは、沈没現場の海域で回収したスクリューを含む魚雷用の推進動力部品だった。北朝鮮の輸出兵器カタログに載った魚雷の設計図に示された部品と大きさや形状が合致していた。

The investigative team's conclusion, supported by these pieces of material evidence, is convincing.
 そうした物的証拠も公開しての発表は客観的で説得力がある。

===

Possible retaliation

North Korea continues to deny its involvement in the sinking. It should be remembered, however, that Pyongyang has lied about various criminal actions it has been accused of in the past. These include a spate of kidnappings targeting Japanese and a terrorist bomb explosion that occurred in Yangon 27 years ago, killing a number of people, including four South Korean cabinet ministers. Given this, North Korea's denial of its involvement in the sinking of the warship cannot be taken at face value.
 当の北朝鮮は、事件との関与を否定している。だが、日本人拉致や、韓国の4閣僚らを爆死させた27年前の爆破テロなどで、ウソを重ねた北朝鮮のことだ。額面通りには受け取れない。

The sinking of the Cheonan occurred in waters where repeated clashes between warships from the South and North have occurred. In November, a North Korean warship was damaged in an exchange of fire between South and North Korean ships in the Yellow Sea. Some South Koreans view the torpedo attack as retaliation by North Korea for this exchange of fire.
 事件現場は、韓国と北朝鮮の艦艇が衝突を繰り返してきた一触即発の海域だ。昨年11月にも、機関砲を撃ち合い、北朝鮮側に損害が出た。魚雷攻撃はその報復だとする見解が韓国内にはある。

South Korea is fundamentally reviewing its defense policy in response to the sinking and is expected to further bolster its alliance with the United States. This apparently shows that the South Korean government learned a bitter lesson when it dropped its guard against North Korea as a result of the sunshine policy of engagement with Pyongyang adopted by the preceding left-leaning administration.
 韓国は今回の事件を機に、防衛政策の抜本的見直しに入った。米韓同盟の一層の強化を打ち出す見通しだ。左派政権の対「北」融和政策の結果、北朝鮮への警戒が薄れていたことへの反省がある。

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UNSC may get issue

The South Korean government is expected to take the issue of the Cheonan's sinking to the U.N. Security Council.
 韓国政府は、国連安全保障理事会に提訴する方針だ。

In separate telephone conversations with South Korean President Lee Myung Bak, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to support South Korea in addressing the issue at the Security Council. Japan and the United States should strive to ensure the council adopts a document that raises harsh questions about North Korea's responsibility for the sinking of the Cheonan.
 鳩山首相とオバマ米大統領は、李明博大統領との個別の電話会談で韓国への支援を約束した。安保理では、北朝鮮の責任を厳しく問う文書の採択に尽力すべきだ。

Attention will be focused on whether China will choose to condemn North Korea in response to the release of the latest report. We hope the Chinese government will take a firm stance against North Korea.
 中国が、調査結果発表を受けて北朝鮮非難の姿勢を見せるかが、注目される。この際、中国には毅然(きぜん)と対処してもらいたい。

Participants in the six-party talks aimed at having North Korea dismantle its nuclear weapons will probably have to postpone a resumption of their negotiations for some time to come. However, doing so will help Pyongyang gain time to further advance its nuclear weapons development program, as it has been unwilling to return to the negotiating table.
 北朝鮮の核廃棄を目指す6か国協議の再開は、今回の事件の影響で、当面ずれ込むと見られる。だが、それは協議復帰を渋る北朝鮮にとって、核兵器開発の時間を稼ぐことにつながる。

North Korea's nuclear weapons program--a direct threat to our national security--must not be left unchecked. With this in mind, Japan needs to look for ways to open a new round of six-nation talks at an early date.
 日本の安全を直接脅かす北朝鮮の核開発を野放しにはできない。日本としては、6か国協議の早期再開の道を探る必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 21, 2010)
(2010年5月21日01時08分 読売新聞)
by kiyoshimat | 2010-05-22 07:08 | 英字新聞

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