Japan-North Korea Relations

On August 25, commencing at around 10:40 a.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held a Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) Summit Telephone Talk with H.E. Mr. Moon Jae-in, President of the ROK. The overview of the telephone talk is as follows.

1. At the beginning, Prime Minister Abe stated that North Korea’s provocative words and actions including its announcement that it will launch ballistic missiles towards the vicinity of Guam are escalating markedly and are totally unacceptable. He also explained that he hopes Japan and the ROK and Japan, the ROK and the United States will make a unified response. Prime Minister Abe stated that he shares President Moon’s view of emphasizing a peaceful resolution to the problem, and noted that it is essential to prepare for contingencies at the same time.
2. Prime Minister Abe also stated that when he and President Moon spoke by telephone on August 7 it was good that they were able to share the view that now is the time for applying pressure, and he explained that he intends to further increase pressure so that North Korea not only exercises self-restraint from provocative actions, but also shows serious intent and takes concrete action toward denuclearization.
3. Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe expressed the view that United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2371 will be fully effective when it is implemented strictly and fully. Prime Minister Abe pointed out that implementation by China and Russia will hold the key in particular, and explained that he hopes Japan, the ROK and the United States will coordinate to encourage China and Russia. Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan just announced new autonomous measures on the same day, August 25, and he hopes Japan, the ROK and the United States will coordinate their responses.
4. (Based on a comment by President Moon referring to a recent visit to the ROK by the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians’ Union and noting the importance of exchanges between parliamentarians,) Prime Minister Abe expressed expectation that exchanges between parliamentarians will be strengthened further.
5. Lastly, Prime Minister Abe stated that it is important to appropriately manage the outstanding issues of concern between Japan and the ROK, and explained Japan’s position on the “requisition of civilians” issue.
6. In response, President Moon stated that he understands the concerns of Japanese citizens regarding North Korea’s provocation that it will launch missiles over Japan towards Guam, and expressed the view that close coordination among the ROK, Japan and the United States is necessary and important. President Moon highly appreciated Japan’s autonomous measures, and stated that he hopes to build a future-oriented ROK-Japan relationship.