Japan-Republic of Korea Relations
Japan-ROK Summit Telephone Talk
On August 30, commencing at around 9:30 a.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held a telephone talk with H.E. Mr. Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK). The overview of the telephone talk is as follows.
1. At the outset, Prime Minister Abe stated that North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile across Japan on August 29 is an outrageous act that poses an unprecedented, grave and serious threat, that it is clear that North Korea does not intend to hold a dialogue, that now is the time to increase pressure on North Korea, and that there he would like to collaborate between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) as well as trilateral collaboration among Japan, the ROK, and the United States, including at the United Nations.
2. President Moon responded that the ROK deeply sympathizes with the profound concerns and insecurity felt by the people of Japan, that North Korea’s latest outrageous act has further elevated the need for close cooperation between Japan and the ROK, and that the adoption of the Presidential Statement by the Security Council was the outcome of Japan-U.S.-ROK cooperation. The two leaders shared the view that they would pursue the adoption of a tougher Security Council resolution.
3. The leaders praised the development of a bilateral relationship that maintains close contact between the leaders and foreign ministers of the two countries, and confirmed that they will continue to maintain close communications, including at the Eastern Economic Forum in September.