Press Releases

1. Japan highly appreciates the unanimous adoption of the United Nation Security Council Resolution 2371 (PDF), which aims to strengthen sanctions measures against North Korea, in response to the launches of ICBM-class ballistic missiles with intercontinental range (July 4 and 28) and other activities conducted by North Korea.

2. It is totally unacceptable that North Korea has been continuing provocations including the launches of two ICBM-class ballistic missiles, disregarding the strong protests and warnings of the international community. The launches of such ballistic missiles show that North Korea poses an increasingly grave and real threat to the region including Japan as well as the entire international community. Resolution 2371 clearly demonstrates the international community’s shared determination that the pressure on North Korea should be elevated to a higher level against the real threat posed by North Korea.

3. Japan strongly urges North Korea to sincerely heed the voice of the international community and comply with the relevant United Nation Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2371. Japan also urges it to refrain from any further provocative actions, such as nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, and to immediately demonstrate its serious will and concrete actions towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

4. Japan, as a member of the Security Council, will continue to work closely with relevant countries, including the United States and the Republic of Korea as well as China and Russia, to ensure the effective implementation of the relevant resolutions.

5. The Resolution 2371 once again expresses its deep concern for the grave hardship that the people in North Korea are subjected to in an operative clause. This demonstrates the strong concern of the international community, including the Security Council, over North Korea’s human rights and humanitarian issues including the abductions issue.

6. Japan will continue to strongly urge North Korea to take concrete actions under its principle of “dialogue and pressure” and “action for action” towards the comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues of concern regarding North Korea, including nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, which continues to be the most important. Especially, with regard to the abductions issue, Japan will continue to make its utmost efforts to realize the return of all abductees at the earliest possible date, urging North Korea to implement the Stockholm Agreement.