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

April 5, 2009
Japanese

For about 15 minutes from 4:40 p.m. on April 5, 2009 (JST) Minister for Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner of France held a telephone conversation. The gist of the conversation is as follows.

At the outset, Foreign Minister Nakasone stated that it was extremely regrettable that despite calls by concerned countries including France and Japan, this situation had developed and that it is a threat to the peace and stability of the region and violates the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and cannot be accepted. Moreover, Foreign Minister Nakasone stated that a strong message must be sent from the international community, and Japan would like to call on France for its assistance and cooperation as a member of the Security Council, including the possibility of issuing a United Nations Security Council Resolution.
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Kouchner stated that he understands the response taken by Japan, that the action taken by North Korea is an impediment to the stability of the region, that Japan can rely on France, and that concerning a reaction to be taken by the United Nations Security Council, he intends to coordinate it through France’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Both sides agreed to continue to closely cooperate in the United Nations Security Council and elsewhere.

(END)