North Korea’s announcement of closing nuclear test site draws mixed responses from Hiroshima citizens
Apr. 22, 2018
by Keiichi Nagayama, Yu Kawakami and Asuka Takio, Staff Writers
On April 21, it was reported that North Korea had decided to stop conducting nuclear tests and close its nuclear test site. After this news broke, people in Hiroshima expressed surprise and welcomed the move as a step toward the elimination of nuclear weapons. But it has not been reported that the country will abandon the nuclear arms it has allegedly already developed. Because North Korea has been willfully carrying out nuclear tests and launching missiles, many people remain skeptical of that nation’s intentions.
“If it’s true, then this is great progress,” said Toshiyuki Mimaki, 76, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, which is chaired by Sunao Tsuboi. Surprised by the news, Mr. Mimaki said that he could not gauge North Korea’s true intentions. “Until last year, North Korea persisted in its threatening attitude with nuclear weapons and missiles, but it seems like the country has become an ‘honor student’ all of a sudden,” he said.
On the same day around the A-bomb Dome in downtown Hiroshima, visitors were called on to give their signatures to support the “Hibakusha Appeal,” an international signature drive urging the world’s nations to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Kunihiko Sakuma, 73, the chair of the other Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, said that he welcomed the mere fact that North Korea had made its announcement.
Referring to the Preparatory Committee for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, scheduled to begin on April 23 in Geneva, Switzerland, Mr. Sakuma stressed the importance of the role of the A-bombed nation of Japan. He said that Japan should press the United States to fulfill its obligations for nuclear disarmament.
With a summit between the leaders of North Korea and the United States scheduled to take place by June, this pronouncement by North Korea is being regarded as a strategic move. Kim Jin Ho, 72, the executive director of the Council of Atom-bombed Koreans in Hiroshima, said, “I hope the summit will change America’s hostile policy toward North Korea.”
On the other hand, many citizens voiced doubts about North Korea’s attitude because it has not referred to actually abandoning its nuclear arms.
Taku Kakuda, 54, the secretary-general of the Prefectural Association of Second-generation A-bomb Survivors, welcomed North Korea’s announcement but also expressed doubt, saying, “Will North Korea really stop developing nuclear weapons?” Ryota Hidaka, 18, a vocational school student who lives in Nishi Ward, said with concern, “I’m afraid North Korea might someday resume its nuclear tests. Missiles from North Korea might also fly this way.”
(Originally published on April 22, 2018)
On April 21, it was reported that North Korea had decided to stop conducting nuclear tests and close its nuclear test site. After this news broke, people in Hiroshima expressed surprise and welcomed the move as a step toward the elimination of nuclear weapons. But it has not been reported that the country will abandon the nuclear arms it has allegedly already developed. Because North Korea has been willfully carrying out nuclear tests and launching missiles, many people remain skeptical of that nation’s intentions.
“If it’s true, then this is great progress,” said Toshiyuki Mimaki, 76, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, which is chaired by Sunao Tsuboi. Surprised by the news, Mr. Mimaki said that he could not gauge North Korea’s true intentions. “Until last year, North Korea persisted in its threatening attitude with nuclear weapons and missiles, but it seems like the country has become an ‘honor student’ all of a sudden,” he said.
On the same day around the A-bomb Dome in downtown Hiroshima, visitors were called on to give their signatures to support the “Hibakusha Appeal,” an international signature drive urging the world’s nations to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Kunihiko Sakuma, 73, the chair of the other Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, said that he welcomed the mere fact that North Korea had made its announcement.
Referring to the Preparatory Committee for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, scheduled to begin on April 23 in Geneva, Switzerland, Mr. Sakuma stressed the importance of the role of the A-bombed nation of Japan. He said that Japan should press the United States to fulfill its obligations for nuclear disarmament.
With a summit between the leaders of North Korea and the United States scheduled to take place by June, this pronouncement by North Korea is being regarded as a strategic move. Kim Jin Ho, 72, the executive director of the Council of Atom-bombed Koreans in Hiroshima, said, “I hope the summit will change America’s hostile policy toward North Korea.”
On the other hand, many citizens voiced doubts about North Korea’s attitude because it has not referred to actually abandoning its nuclear arms.
Taku Kakuda, 54, the secretary-general of the Prefectural Association of Second-generation A-bomb Survivors, welcomed North Korea’s announcement but also expressed doubt, saying, “Will North Korea really stop developing nuclear weapons?” Ryota Hidaka, 18, a vocational school student who lives in Nishi Ward, said with concern, “I’m afraid North Korea might someday resume its nuclear tests. Missiles from North Korea might also fly this way.”
(Originally published on April 22, 2018)
