Press Conferences

Reporter: Which route did Japan use to lodge a protest to North Korea, and what kind of protest was lodged?

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Japan lodged a serious protest at 10:03 a.m. via the embassy route in Beijing.

Reporter: What are the subsequent plans? Will you be holding telephone talks with each of the relevant countries, for instance?

Minister Kishida: First, the Government lodged a protest. We then requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In addition, Japan has requested telephone talks with each of the relevant countries. These actions were all taken after we confirmed the missile launch by North Korea and we are currently in the midst of arranging telephone talks.

Reporter: Could you please share more details regarding the contents of the protest that Japan lodged against North Korea?

Minister Kishida: I would like to refrain from commenting on the details of the protest. Japan lodged a serious protest. This missile launch violates UNSC resolutions, the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, and the Joint Statement of the Six Party Talks. Japan strongly protests this.

I will now convene a meeting of the Emergency Response Headquarters within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Afterwards, I, as Foreign Minister, will hold a press conference and provide further explanations.