LDP Leadership Hopefuls, Take a Stand on North Korean Nuclearization

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Lawmakers vying to lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) need to speak out about national security. So too must cabinet ministers and current leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties.

For one, they need to take a stand regarding the urgent threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities.

On September 21, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un proclaimed to the Supreme People's Assembly that "We will never lay down our nukes." Kim added that if the United States gives up its demands for North Korea's denuclearization and "wants genuine peaceful coexistence with us, there is no reason for us not to come face to face."

The Japanese government must not just stand by and dismiss this as just another affirmation of Pyongyang's hardline stance. At the very least, there is a risk that, if another US-North Korea summit materializes, the parties could reach agreements that undermine Japan's security. Even if that possibility seems low, such fears should not be dismissed out of hand.

*US President Donald Trump meets with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the White House in Washington on August 25. (©Reuters)*

Upcoming Risks and Events

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is due to be held in South Korea from October 31. US President Donald Trump is also expected to attend.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has added to the concern. On September 23, he declared in his speech before the UN General Assembly that South Korea would provide "active support" for the normalization of relations between North Korea and the international community, including the United States. South Korea's government could well be planning a US-North Korea summit at Panmunjom.

The US government has never recognized North Korea as a nuclear power. However, there are reasons for concern about Trump's diplomatic efforts. While his pledge to cooperate in resolving the issue of abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea is highly commendable, the US president has made problematic statements regarding the nuclear and missile issues.

For example, in March, Trump said North Korea possesses many nuc l ear weapons. His statement was a de facto acknowledgment of North Korea as a nuclear power. Later, in August, Trump said he had a good relationship with Kim and hoped to meet him "this year."

During his first term as president, he also sometimes appeared unworried by North Korean missile launches if the missiles in question could not reach the US mainland.

Kim Jong Un leads a meeting on nuclear weapons production with scientists and engineers from North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Research Institute and related fields. (©Korean Central News Agency via KCNA)

Kim Jong Un's Declarations

During his speech to the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim also said, "Personally, I still have a good memory of the current US President Trump." Since President Trump seems so keen to resume a dialogue with Pyongyang, Kim apparently believes he can get the President to agree that North Korea can keep its nuclear weapons.

Allowing North Korea to possess nuclear and missile capabilities in any form would present an even greater threat to Japan's security.

Now is the time to declare in no uncertain terms that North Korea's possession of nuclear and missile capabilities is absolutely unacceptable. Every lawmaker running for the LDP leadership or in other ruling and opposition leadership positions should take a stand.

They need to voice their concern loudly and clearly, not only to North Korea but to Trump as well.