Japan-Republic of Korea Relations
Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
May 14, 2017
On May 14, commencing at 10:30 a.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a Japan-ROK foreign ministers’ telephone talk with Mr. Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), following North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile. The overview of the talk is as follows.
- Both ministers exchanged information on North Korea’s ballistic missile launch and shared the view to continue to maintain close cooperation between Japan-U.S. and among Japan-U.S.-ROK, including at the United Nations.
- Furthermore, both ministers affirmed that dialogue for the sake of dialogue with North Korea is meaningless, and that it is necessary to put pressure on North Korea at this juncture. The two ministers also affirmed that, in dealing with the North Korea problem, China has an extremely important role and the international community should cooperate.
- Both ministers agreed to continue to maintain close cooperation Japan-U.S. and among Japan-U.S.-ROK under the new administration of President Moon Jae-in.