Japan-United States of America Relations
Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting
July 8, 2018


On July 8, commencing at around 8:00 a.m. for approximately one hour, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting over breakfast with the Honorable Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State of the United States, who was visiting Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Secretary Pompeo explained in detail his exchanges with North Korea during his recent visit from July 6 to 7.
- The two foreign ministers confirmed their shared goal of seeking the dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner, and shared the view that they would work together to urge North Korea to take concrete action towards the complete implementation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
- Minister Kono stated that Japan is determined to make every effort possible to promptly resolve the abductions issue, including through direct discussions between Japan and North Korea, while coordinating with the international community including the United States. The two foreign ministers once again confirmed that Japan and the United States will continue to cooperate.
- The two foreign ministers confirmed that they would continue to closely align their policies, and that Japan and the United States, as well as Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea would seize every opportunity to coordinate closely.
- In addition, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on other regional issues.