Press Conference by the Prime Minister regarding a Telephone Talk with U.S. President Biden

 
(On a telephone talk with U.S. President Biden)
 
A short while ago, I had a telephone talk with U.S. President Biden for about 25 minutes. North Korea’s series of provocative acts and launch of a ballistic missile that flew over Japan, the first time in five years, are a clear and serious challenge to the peace and stability of Japan and regional and international community. I shared such thoughts with President Biden in the telephone talk and we strongly condemned this outrageous act. We also confirmed that we will continue to closely cooperate between Japan and the U.S., as well as among Japan, the U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) and in other frameworks in seeking further response by the U.N. Security Council in order to achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the U.N. Security Council resolutions. I also reiterated Japan’s determination to fundamentally reinforce its defense capabilities and we shared the view to promote related efforts including strengthening of the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance and cooperation among Japan, the U.S. and ROK. Those are the matters we confirmed in the telephone talk, which also reaffirmed that Japan and the U.S. will continue to closely work together.