Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary on North Korea’s Missile Launch

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

1. At around 5:58 am today, North Korea launched a ballistic missile that flew over Cape Erimo (Erimo-misaki), Hokkaido in Japan. The Government of Japan is taking every possible means including necessary measures such as safety checks of vessels at sea and aircraft in the air, as well as safety confirmation for the regions where the missile was deemed to have flown over. No damage has been reported as of now.

2. The countries concerned including Japan as well as the international community have repeatedly urged North Korea to fully comply with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions among others, condemned North Korea’s repeated provocations including nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches , and urged the abandonment of its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile development program. In addition, this month, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2371, which strongly condemns North Korea’s launches of the ICBM-class ballistic missiles twice in July, and which expands and enhances sanctions on North Korea considerably. Despite the fact that the international community had just lodged once again a unified protest and warning to North Korea to ensure that these acts never happen again, it belligerently launched another ballistic missile; It is totally unacceptable.

3. Since last year, North Korea has launched more than 30 ballistic missiles that could become the delivery means of weapons of mass destruction and has conducted two nuclear tests, which pose a grave and a more serious threat to the security of Japan and the international community as a whole. Furthermore, it appears that the missile launched today flew over Japan and fell into the Pacific Ocean to the east of Hokkaido. This represents a grave and serious threat to the security of Japan as well as threatens the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific region; it is also an extremely problematic act from the perspective of ensuring the safety of aircraft and vessels. These actions by North Korea violate the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, and is also against the spirit of the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. Japan lodges its serious protest and condemns North Korea in the strongest terms.

4. Japan, once again, strongly urges North Korea to immediately and fully implement the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions as well as to take concrete actions towards resolving outstanding issues of concern including the abductions issue as well as nuclear and missile programs in a comprehensive manner.

5. Based on the instruction by the Prime Minister, the Government of Japan will continue to take every possible means to ensure the peace and security of its country and the safety of its people, and will take the following measures:

(1) Reconfirm whether there have been any damages caused by the launch, including fallen objects, focusing on the areas where the missile was judged to have flown;

(2) Provide relevant information to the public accordingly and accurately;

(3) Make every effort in collecting and analyzing information including forthcoming moves by North Korea;

(4) Tirelessly ensure the necessary readiness and collaborate closely with countries including the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) so as to prevent contingencies and take all possible responses should one occur; and

(5) Continue to steadily implement Japan’s measures, including those decided in July and August 2017, and the measures based on the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. As a member of the UN Security Council, Japan will further strengthen the cooperation and collaboration with countries concerned including the United States, the ROK, China, and Russia as well as the international community, and ensure the effectiveness of the UN Security Council Resolution 2371 and other relevant resolutions. Swiftly review firm responses against North Korea, including further responses by the UN Security Council.

6. We ask our citizens to remain calm and continue on with their daily lives and activities as usual.