Japan-Republic of Korea Summit Talks on the Telephone

September 22, 2005

1. On September 22 at 12 noon, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan, and Mr. Roh Moo Hyun, President of the Republic of Korea, talked over the telephone for about 10 minutes.
2. First, President Roh congratulated Prime Minister Koizumi again on his victory in the recent general election.
3. Responding to President Roh's remark appreciating Japan's efforts for the adoption of a joint statement in the Six-Party Talks, Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his gratitude and confirmed with him that both governments would continue close cooperation.
4. President Roh also appreciated the firm attitude expressed by Prime Minister Koizumi toward the normalization with North Korea. In response, Prime Minister Koizumi said that the basic policy remains unchanged and that Japan, in light of its cooperation with the U.S., would deal with North Korea issues, which Japan regards as one of the most important matters for both Japan and the Republic of Korea.
5. President Roh said that the development of the Six-Party Talks and the dialogue between Japan and North Korea was significant and that these talks would set a fresh starting point for the peace and stability as well as the joint prosperity of Northeast Asia. Prime Minister Koizumi said that Japan intends to have close ties and contact with the Republic of Korea so that the situation would develop exactly as expressed in the joint statement of the Six-Party Talks.
6. At the end of the talks, Prime Minister Koizumi told President Roh that he was looking forward to welcoming President Roh to Japan within this year.

Related Information (Japan-ROK Relations)