Press Releases

1. On the morning of February 7, North Korea launched a ballistic missile, which it calls a “satellite,” following the nuclear test conducted early last month. The missile launch is a violation of successive United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, and is also against the spirit of the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks of 2005.

2. Japan considers North Korea’s series of provocations to be totally unacceptable and immediately lodged a serious protest against North Korea through the North Korean “Embassy” to Beijing on the same morning.

3. During the evening of the same day, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held telephone talks with each of the Foreign Ministers of seven countries: the Republic of Korea (ROK), France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Malaysia, and the United States. Minister Kishida confirmed with these seven countries that North Korea’s series of provocations violates UNSC resolutions etc. and are totally unacceptable, and that Japan and each country will continue to coordinate closely in responding to the situation.

4. In particular, in the Foreign Ministers’ telephone talks with the United States and the ROK, Minister Kishida explained that Japan had decided to proceed with the implementation of Japan’s own measures and received positive reactions from both countries regarding Japan’s resolute response. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Kishida reaffirmed, with each of the Foreign Ministers, the importance of security cooperation among three countries. Minister Kishida also requested cooperation at the UNSC of France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia as members of the UNSC. With Russia, Minister Kishida confirmed plans to cooperate at a variety of levels, including the expert level.

5. With regard to measures taken at the forum of the United Nations, Japan, the United States, and the ROK made a joint request to Venezuela, which holds the UNSC Presidency, to hold an emergency meeting of the UNSC, and the UNSC held an emergency meeting in the early hours of February 8, Japan time.

6. Japan intends to fulfil its responsibilities for supporting the peace and security of the international community as the G7 Chair and as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, and will continue to strongly urge North Korea to faithfully implement the UNSC resolutions, the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks, and etc., in close cooperation with the countries concerned and the United Nations.