Press Conference 20 January 2004

1. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon of the Republic of Korea
2. Upcoming trilateral policy coordination meeting on North Korea among Japan, United States of America and Republic of Korea

1. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon of the Republic of Korea

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon. Today I have two announcements I would like to make.

   The first announcement is about the conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea.

   Foreign Minister Kawaguchi held a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon to congratulate him on his appointment.

   Taking this opportunity, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi said that she wished to cooperate with Minister Ban to bring about further strengthening of the bilateral relation between Japan and the Republic of Korea and to promote the peace and prosperity of the region, including the peaceful solution of the nuclear issues of North Korea. She also solicited the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea for Japan's candidacy to invite the International Thermonuclear Energy Reactor (ITER) project to Rokkasho-mura Village of Aomori Prefecture.

   Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Minister Ban agreed to hold a direct meeting at the earliest possible date to exchange views on various issues.

   Related Information (Japan-Republic of Korea Relations)
   Related Information (Science and Technology)
   
2. Upcoming trilateral policy coordination meeting on North Korea among Japan, United States of America and Republic of Korea

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is on the coordination meeting among Japan, the United States of America and the Republic of Korea.

   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today announced that a three-party meeting among Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea for the unofficial policy coordination and consultation on the issues of North Korea will be held in Washington, DC on 21 and 22 January.

   From Japan, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Mitoji Yabunaka will attend, while Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly will represent the United States and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lee Soo-hyuck will represent the Republic of Korea.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-Republic of Korea Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)