Comment by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on the Proposal of a Four-party Meeting on Achieving Lasting Peace on theKorean Peninsula

16 April 1996

Today's proposal by President Kim Young Sam of the Republic of Korea and President William Clinton of the United States of America for the holding of a Four-party Meeting on Achieving Lasting Peace on the Korean Peninsula is a major, significant initiative for achieving peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and Japan lends it support to this proposal.

Japan hopes that this Four-party Meeting will be realized and that tensions will be relaxed and confidence built on the Korean Peninsula as a result thereof, so that agreement can be reached to create a lasting peace to replace the current armistice agreement.

Japan hopes that North Korea will accept this proposal without delay and come to the table to engage in dialogue. At the same time, Japan once again calls on North Korea to abide by the armistice agreement, and not make any movements which could damage the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula in the interim period until such a lasting peace can be achieved.

I intend to have an exchange of views on these matters and the overall situation on the Korean Peninsula, as well as other matters, with President Clinton, who arrives in Japan today.

Furthermore, I intend to maintain close contact with the Republic of Korea and the United States regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula.