U.S., Japan push N. Korea sanctions

TOKYO – A top U.S. envoy pushed today for a united international front against North Korea’s recent missile tests. Japan said it was considering whether a pre-emptive strike on the North’s missile bases would violate its constitution.

Despite resistance from China and Russia, Japan has pushed for a U.N. Security Council resolution that would include sanctions against North Korea. A Japanese spokesman said today the government may also discuss the possibility of a first strike against North Korea.

“If we accept that there is no other option to prevent an attack … there is the view that attacking the launch base of the guided missiles is within the constitutional right of self-defense. We need to deepen discussion,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said.

Japan’s constitution currently bars the use of military force in settling international disputes and prohibits Japan from maintaining a military for warfare. Tokyo, however, has interpreted that to mean it can have armed troops to protect itself, allowing the existence of its 240,000-strong Self-Defense Forces.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill met with Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo to discuss the region’s response to last week’s missile tests, which included the unsuccessful test of a long-range missile that could reach the United States.

“We want to make it very clear that we all speak in one voice on this provocative action by the North Koreans to launch missiles in all shapes and sizes,” Hill said. “We want to make it clear to North Korea that what it did was really unacceptable.”

China and Russia, two of North Korea’s traditional allies, remained the two veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council who have voiced opposition to the resolution, which Japan hopes to put to a vote today. Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported that China may use its veto to block the resolution.

A Chinese vice premier arrived in North Korea today, officially to attend celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of a friendship treaty between the North and China.

The United States is urging Beijing to push its communist ally back into six-party nuclear disarmament talks, and while the Chinese government has not said whether Vice Premier Hui Liangyu would bring up the matter, his delegation was to include Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, China’s chief nuclear negotiator.

South Korea has not publicly taken a position on Japan’s resolution but on Sunday rebuked Japan for its outspoken criticism of the missile tests.

“There is no reason to fuss over this from the break of dawn like Japan, but every reason to do the opposite,” a statement from President Roh Moo-hyun’s office said, suggesting Japan was heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Song Min-soon, South Korea’s presidential security adviser, told the Associated Press that Seoul was not convinced sanctions would stop North Korea’s missile efforts.

South Korea also said it still plans to host Cabinet-level meetings with the North from Tuesday to Friday in the southern port city of Busan. The talks are the highest-level regular contacts between the Koreas.

North Korea also issued fresh threats. The North’s state-run Korean Central Broadcasting Station, monitored by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, cited a previous statement by leader Kim Jong Il vowing “to answer to an enemy’s retaliation with retaliation and to an all-out war with an all-out war.”

Japan, which sits within easy range of North Korean missiles, said Sunday it won’t compromise on the U.N. resolution, which prohibits nations from procuring missiles or missile-related “items, materials goods and technology” from North Korea, or from transferring financial resources connected to the North’s program.

Foreign Minister Aso said there is a possibility that Russia will abstain, leaving China as a possible sole veto. Nine of 15 votes on the Security Council are needed to pass the resolution. The United States, Britain and France have expressed support for the resolution.