Press Releases
Japan-United States Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
On Sunday, February 7, commencing at 11:30 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a Japan-United States Foreign Ministers’ telephone talk with The Honorable John F. Kerry, Secretary of State of the United States. 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, undermined the peace and security of Northeast Asia and the international community, and clearly violates multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, and was therefore totally unacceptable. Minister Kishida further explained that Japan had immediately lodged a protest against North Korea and decided to take measures of its own. Additionally, Minister Kishida communicated the importance of the international community sending a strong message to North Korea, the need for the UNSC to swiftly adopt a strong resolution, and Japan’s intention as a non-permanent member of the UNSC to continue close cooperation with the United States.
2. In response, Secretary of State Kerry stated that the United States views North Korea’s missile launch as a flagrant violation of UNSC resolutions and strongly condemns it, and intends to cooperate thoroughly with Japan for swift adoption of a strong UNSC resolution. Secretary Kerry also stated that the United States plans to continue cooperating at the Japan-U.S.-ROK level and reacted positively to Japan’s firm response.