August 7, 2002

1. Ladies and gentlemen, as the representative of the Government of Japan to the Executive Board of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, I am honored to take part in this ceremony.
   
   
2. Let me first express my deepest sense of gratitude and respect to all the people involved from the Executive Board member countries, the KEDO Secretariat, the Korea Electric Power Corporation, and the DPRK for their efforts to maintain steady progress of the KEDO Project.
   
   
3. The KEDO Project moves forward as KEDO and the DPRK fulfill obligations set forth by various agreements between the two parties. There is a Korean proverb, saying, “It takes the clap of two hands to make a sound” (son-pyuk-do ma-ju cheo-ya soli-ga nan-da). Only through cooperation can we enjoy good results.
   I hope to see such a cooperative relationship maintained through the steady fulfillment of agreements including the Supply Agreement between KEDO and the DPRK. I also hope strongly that the cooperation between the DPRK and the IAEA improves quickly and that the DPRK comes into full compliance with the IAEA's safeguards agreement.
   
   
4. Japan has consistently expressed its firm support for the KEDO Project and contributes to the advancement of this project in terms of finance, technology and personnel, along with other EB members. Japan will, as it always has, support KEDO as much as possible.
   
   
5. Let me conclude my remarks by expressing my hope for the success of the KEDO Project.

BACK / 目次