Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers' Telephone Talks

April 13, 2012
Japanese

On Friday, 13 April, from 1:30 p.m. (Thursday, April 12, 9:20 p.m., U.S. Western Standard Time), Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Koichiro Gemba held telephone talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Mr. Kim Sung-hwan, for approximately 17 minutes to discuss the launch of a missile which North Korea called a "satellite", while in transit in Los Angeles on his way back to Japan from Washington, D.C. The following is an outline of the telephone talks.

Minister Kim expressed disappointment and concern about the North Korea's launch of the missile, and strongly condemned the action, which was a clear violation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1874 and a grave provocation against the regional security, regardless of the success or failure of the launch. Furthermore, he stated that it would be necessary to act calmly and firmly, and would cooperate closely with Japan, including the action of the UN Security Council.
In response, Minister Gemba stated that although the launch turned out to be a failure, North Korea's launch was a violation of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and a grave provocation against the security of Japan. He stated that Japan deplored the launch and strongly protested against North Korea. Furthermore, he talked about discussions at the G8 Foreign Ministers Meeting and other occasions in Washington, D.C. and emergency statement of the G8 foreign ministers' which called for appropriate response by the UN Security Council. He expressed his intention to continue to cooperate closely between Japan and the ROK as well as among Japan, the ROK, and the U.S. to ensure the Security Council's appropriate response.
Both ministers agreed that they would work together on this issue with all countries concerned including the U.S. as well as China and Russia and keep in contact including at working-level.

(*The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original version in Japanese.)

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