July 8, 2006
At the FCCJ


Ladies and Gentlemen,

We all know that North Korea's nuclear weapons program is a source of serious concern to all of us. North Korea is known to be an active proliferator of sensitive technology and means to deliver weapons. They have abducted our citizens, and are engaged in illicit activities including counterfeiting of money and drug smuggling.

In addition to all this, from the early morning hours to the evening of last Wednesday, we witnessed multiple launches of ballistic missiles conducted by the same country. Upon the incident, Japan urgently assembled the relevant Ministers and officials, and took necessary measures to fully address the unfolding situation.

We are gravely concerned over these launches. In August, 1998, North Korea launched a Taepodong I ballistic missile, which flew through the airspace of Japan. This time, North Korea undertook a series of launches in utterly complete defiance of prior warnings that Japan and other countries had conveyed. These launches are a matter of grave concern from the perspective of Japan's own security, peace and stability of the international community, and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

We also view them a matter of concern in respect of international laws administrating the safety of aviation and navigation. They are in violation of the missile moratorium of the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, and are inconsistent with the Joint Statement of the Six Party Talks.

In response to this highly provocative act by North Korea, Japan immediately protested and expressed deep regret by issuing a Chief Cabinet Secretary's Statement, and strongly urged North Korea to reinstate its moratorium, to behave consistently with it, and to return to the Six Party Talks immediately without any preconditions.


Ladies and Gentlemen,


Under the leadership of Prime Minister Koizumi, and the relevant Cabinet Ministers, our Government reacted swiftly to the situation and adopted a series of stringent measures to respond to the launches by North Korea. You may already be aware of these measures, but let me go through them very briefly.

First of all, our Government will continue to convey its deep regret to North Korea and to strongly protest at all levels.

Second, our Government has banned entries of the Mangyongbong No. 92, a major North Korean vessel commuting between Japan and North Korea, to a Japanese port.

Third, our Government will not admit, in principle, the entry of North Korean officials and enforce stricter scrutiny over the entry of other North Koreans. In case of visit by a North Korean vessel, Japan will not admit, in principle, entry of its crews.

Fourth, our Government will not admit, in principle, re-entry of North Korean officials living in Japan when their destination is North Korea.

Fifth, Japan will, in principle, suspend sending its officials to North Korea. Our Government calls on people residing or staying in Japan not to travel to North Korea from Japan.

Sixth, our Government will not permit chartered flights from North Korea to Japan.

Seventh, we will continue to strictly implement export control measures on missile and WMD-related goods and services against North Korea.

Eighth, our Government will maintain its strict law enforcement against North Korea's illicit activities.

We will consider further measures while taking into account the development of this matter, including North Korea's responses.


Ladies and Gentlemen,


The launches by North Korea should be strongly condemned by the international community. We regard it essential that adequate actions be taken by the international community as a whole.

To that end, Japan has been closely cooperating with the United States on the basis of our strong alliance.

We have been working to enhance coordination and information exchange with other relevant countries, such as the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and members of the Six Party Talks.

And finally, we have taken initiative in taking this matter to the UN Security Council, where discussions are currently being held towards the adoption of a resolution that would demonstrate the strong and clear message of the entire world that North Korea's actions cannot be condoned.

Since immediately after the launch, we have been working at all levels to ensure such an outcome. Prime Minister Koizumi spoke with President Bush by phone. Foreign Minister Aso has spoken over the phone with his counterparts from every permanent member of the Security Council and more: three times with Dr. Rice, US Secretary of State; twice with Foreign Minister Lavrov of Russia; and with the Foreign Ministers of China, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy.

At the time, I happened to be visiting South Africa, where I requested the South Africans to convey their concern to North Korea, and gained the support of the South African Government. I can say with confidence that the sense of concern was shared by all through these conversations.

Meanwhile, our diplomats were hard at work in New York, trying to formulate a deal among members of the Security Council. Thanks to all these efforts, I am pleased to inform you, that we have been able to officially table a solid draft resolution, co-sponsored by Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovakia.

It is our hope that the Security Council will take action on this draft resolution as soon as possible, in demonstration of the international community's unified concern over the North Korean missile launches.