Telephone Conversation between Foreign Ministers of Japan and the Republic of Korea regarding the Launch of a Flying Object by North Korea

April 5, 2009
Japanese

For about 15 minutes from 1:15 p.m. on April 5, 2009 (JST) Minister of Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Yu Myung-hwan held a telephone conversation. The summary of the conversation is as follows;

At the outset, Minister Nakasone stated that it was extremely deplorable that North Korea had conducted the launch despite efforts by concerned countries including the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan. The launch cannot be tolerated as it is a threat to the peace and stability of the region and violates the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. It is also incompatible with the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. Moreover, it goes against the efforts, including those at the Six-Party Talks, being made for peace and stability of the Northeast Asia region. Minister Yu stated that the Government of the ROK had just issued a statement and explained the ROK government assessment which was similar to that of Japan.
2. In addition, Minister Nakasone stated that, Japan intended to bring this matter to the United Nations Security Council with a view to adopting a new United Nations Security Council Resolution. In response to this, Minister Yu stated that it was important to send a strong message to North Korea and that the ROK would support the efforts by the countries concerned beginning with Japan and would do its utmost to cooperate.
3. Both sides agreed to, in response to the launch, closely cooperate at all levels between Japan and the ROK as well as among Japan, the ROK and the United States.

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