Press Conferences

Extraordinary Press Conference by Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko

Monday, December 18, 2023, 11:40 a.m. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only.
Japanese

Opening Remarks

Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs: North Korea forcefully conducted a launch of an ICBM-class ballistic missile this morning. North Korea also launched a ballistic missile last night, and such launches are a violation of relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

In response, regarding the launches by North Korea, Japan immediately lodged its serious protest to North Korea through the embassy route in Beijing and condemned the launch in the strongest possible terms.

In addition, we have just held a Four Ministers’ Meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), consolidating all of the information and discussing Japan’s response.

North Korea’s repeated launches of ballistic missiles and others are absolutely unacceptable, and we will continue to work closely together between Japan and the U.S. as well as among Japan, the U.S., and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Question-and-Answer Session

Reporter: In response to this incident, is there any plan to hold a Japan-U.S.-ROK consultation at the foreign ministerial level? Please tell us the course of specific responses.

Minister Kamikawa: We are communicating with the U.S. and ROK, but I would like to refrain from sharing further details.

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