Japan may participate in inspections of North Korean cargo ships
The Security Council adopted the resolution Saturday to call for sanctions on North Korea after its announcement it conducted a nuclear test Monday.
Earlier, the government only considered providing logistic support, including fuel and water supplies to U.S. vessels to conduct inspections on North Korean cargo ships.
But the situation may demand Japan do more because the resolution expected to be adopted at the Security Council likely will be limited to nonmilitary measures and the United States, including U.S. envoy to Japan Thomas Schieffer, has been asking Tokyo to provide "meaningful contribution."
"The logistic support alone will be too limited (of a contribution). As the law to deal with contingencies in areas surrounding Japan will be applied, we'd better go into steps further allowed within the limit of the law," a senior government official said.
If Japan participates in inspections of North Korean vessels, they will be conducted based also on the Ship Inspection Law, the sources said.
Also Friday, a senior Defense Agency official said: "If other countries perform ship inspections, it would be impossible for only Japan not to do anything. When the law to deal with contingencies in areas surrounding Japan is applied, Japan will also participate in the inspections."
The statement is seen as a clarification that the agency is studying the MSDF's participation in ship inspections.
Performing inspections under the Ship Inspection Law needs to be recognized by the government as an example of "contingencies in areas surrounding Japan" together with the logistics support.
The government will be required to devise a basic plan including the measures, which should be approved in a Cabinet meeting.
