Meeting with Leaders of Like-minded Countries on North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Launch

 
On November 18, commencing around 12:42 p.m. local time (the same day, 2:42 p.m. Japan time) for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, who is visiting Bangkok, Thailand to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, attended a Meeting with Leaders of Like-minded Countries on North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Launch, which was hosted by the Honorable Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States of America. In addition to Prime Minister Kishida, the Honorable Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States of America, H.E. Dr. Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, The Hon. Anthony Albanese, MP, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Rt. Hon. Justin Pierre James Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada and Rt. Hon. Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand attended the meeting. This is the first time that a meeting regarding North Korea was held among these like-minded countries.
 
1. The Leaders of the six countries condemned today's missile launch by North Korea in the strongest possible terms and concurred that it is absolutely unacceptable. They also concurred to strengthen coordination among them toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
 
2. Prime Minister Kishida stated that the North Korea’s ballistic missile fell into the west of Hokkaido in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), that North Korea’s extremely frequent ballistic missile launches, including the latest one, are totally unacceptable, and that we should to express our strong will to condemn it in the strongest possible terms. Prime Minister Kishida also stated that North Korea may conduct further missile launches or another nuclear test, and that the international community should work together toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions. Each Leader expressed their strong commitments to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. Prime Minister Kishida also asked for continued strong support from each country for the resolution of the abductions issue.