Press Releases
Japan-UK Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
On Sunday, February 7, commencing at around 9:40 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a Japan-United Kingdom(UK) Foreign Ministers’ telephone talk with the Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the UK. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. Minister Kishida explained that North Korea’s ballistic missile launch, following the fourth nuclear test last month, 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. Additionally, Minister Kishida requested the cooperation of the UK, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), to accelerate consultations related to a UNSC resolution and achieve swift adoption of a strong resolution.
2. Secretary Hammond commented that this ballistic missile launch by North Korea was a clear violation of relevant UNSC resolutions and was totally unacceptable. He further stated that the international community needs to unitedly make response promptly against the second provocation by North Korea within a single month following the nuclear test in January, and that it is important for the UNSC to swiftly send a strong message.
3. The two Ministers confirmed that Japan and the UK would continue to cooperate closely, along with collaboration with other countries, toward adoption of a new UNSC resolution with strong provisions.