Japan and the United Nations

Minister Kishida attended the UNSC Thematic Meeting on the denuclearization of North Korea, which was chaired by the Honorable Rex W. Tillerson, Secretary of State of the United States of America. At the beginning, Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, gave a briefing on North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile program, followed by statements (PDF) by UNSC member states and the Republic of Korea (ROK). Minister Kishida stated that the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development has reached a new level, and pressure from the international community will be required to achieve the denuclearization of Korean Peninsula. Secretary of State Tillerson explained that we must work together to impose increased diplomatic and economic pressure on the North Korean regime, and all options for responding to future provocation must remain on the table. Many countries stressed the need to make progress on denuclearization of North Korea, and the importance of cooperating among the international community to achieve it.

Following the UNSC Thematic Meeting, Minister Kishida attended the ministerial working luncheon. Ministers from UNSC member states and the ROK were invited, as was Secretary-General Guterres, and they exchanged frank views on the denuclearization of North Korea. Minister Kishida emphasized that North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development program reached a new level of threat and is totally unacceptable to Japan and the international community, and that the relevant UNSC resolutions need to be implemented rigorously and thoroughly.

A Japan-U.S.-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held for the first time in around two months, since the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in February this year. Minister Kishida emphasized that a resolute response, including strict measures, needs to be taken with further provocative actions, and that China has an extremely important role to play in dealing with the North Korea problem and further efforts by China are needed. Additionally, Minister Kishida appreciated the stern position being taken by the Trump Administration that "all options are on the table." The three foreign ministers confirmed close cooperation, including at the UN, and along with undertaking policy coordination among Japan, the United States and the ROK, they shared the view that Japan-U.S.-ROK cooperation will be promoted, including on the security front. Also Minister Kishida once again obtained understanding and support on the abductions issue.

Minister Kishida held his third face-to-face meeting with the Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (U.K.), since February this year. The two ministers shared the view that they would cooperate toward reaching an agreement in principle on the Japan-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as soon as possible, attach importance to maintaining transparency and predictability with regard to the U.K. leaving the EU, and work closely together on maintaining and strengthening the Japan-U.K. economic relationship after the U.K. leaves the EU, as well as on strengthening security and defense cooperation. The two ministers appreciated that an agreement had been reached at the UN Security Council on a powerful message regarding the growing threat posed by North Korea, and shared the view that they should take a resolute response against further provocative actions, and that they would coordinate closely. In addition, the two ministers exchanged views on the situation in Syria and other issues.

Minister Kishida held a meeting with Mr. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, the first time since February this year. With regard to the relationship between Japan and China, the two foreign ministers shared the view that they will continue to make efforts together to deal with matters of concern appropriately and expand and strengthen the positive aspects so that the relationship between Japan and China proceeds to improve further. 
The two ministers exchanged views on the recent situation in North Korea, along with sharing the view that Japan and China will work together on North Korean issue. Minister Kishida explained to Minister Wang that it will be important to display a resolute stance toward further provocative actions by North Korea, and urged China to fulfill a greater role. The two foreign ministers shared the view that Japan and China will continue to pursue close communication on this issue between their foreign ministers as well. Minister Kishida once again conveyed his expectation for the Chinese side's understanding and support regarding the abductions issue.