Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a request related to North Korea’s activities from Mr. Zembee Mizoguchi, Governor of Shimane Prefecture; Mr. Hidehiko Yuzaki, Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture; Mr. Tokihiro Nakamura, Governor of Ehime Prefecture; and Mr. Masanao Ozaki, Governor of Kochi Prefecture, at the Prime Minister's Office.

After receiving the written request, the Prime Minister said,

“It is outrageous that North Korea has specified the names of your prefectures and announced that its ballistic missiles would fly over them. We have lodged a strong protest against North Korea through the embassy channel. It is first and foremost vital that North Korea not conduct such unforgivable provocative acts. We will promote close Japan-U.S.-ROK collaboration, and will also work with China and Russia in steadily placing greater pressure on North Korea through the United Nations (UN) and making every effort to ensure that North Korea does not carry out these acts.

At the same time, I believe that you and the people of your prefectures are, not surprisingly, very concerned. In order to protect your prefectures as well as the national interests of Japan, as you have said a moment ago, we have deployed Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) units and Aegis-type vessels to maintain a missile defense posture under a state of high alert. We will do our utmost to make sure there would be no ham to Japanese nationals. The most important responsibility of the Government is to safeguard the lives of the public. We will continue to exert every effort in this regard.”