Statement by Foreign Minister Yohei Kono on a Summit Meeting between the Republic of Korea (R.O.K.) and North Korea

April 10, 2000

It was announced today that a South-North summit meeting would be held in Pyongyang from June 12 to 14.
The Government of Japan has repeatedly made clear our recognition that dialogue between the authorities of both sides is quite important and indispensable for the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. The announcement of the coming meeting is considered to be an expression of the strong will of both parties toward South-North dialogue, and the meeting, the first in history, would have epoch-making significance. The Government of Japan welcomes and expresses its full support for the meeting, which has been realized in line with the "engagement policy" advanced by Mr. Kim Dae-jung, President of the R.O.K. Japan hopes that the meeting will be held as scheduled and a meaningful exchange of views will take place. Japan also strongly expects that this meeting will lead to further development of South-North dialogue in the future and the mitigation of the tension on the Korean Peninsula.

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