Press Releases
Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
On Sunday, February 7, commencing at 5:30 p.m. for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministers’ telephone talk with Mr. Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROK. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. Minister Kishida explained that North Korea’s ballistic missile launch, following the fourth nuclear test, posed a direct and grave threat to the security of Japan, and undermined the peace and security of Northeast Asia and the international community, and was therefore totally unacceptable. Minister Kishida further explained that Japan had lodged a protest against North Korea and decided to take measures of its own. Additionally, Minister Kishida confirmed the need for close cooperation with the ROK, the United States, and other related countries, to accelerate consultations related to a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution and achieve swift adoption of a strong resolution.
2. Minister Yun commented that it was important for the UNSC to send a strong message expeditiously regarding this ballistic missile launch by North Korea and that the ROK intends to continue coordinating with Japan, a non-permanent member of the UNSC, for adoption of a new UNSC resolution with strong contents.
3. Both Ministers confirmed that Japan-ROK and Japan-US-ROK will and also agreed on the importance of working together with China, Russia, and other related countries.