[Provisional Translation]

1. At around 6:57 am today, North Korea launched a ballistic missile that flew over 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, following North Korea’s repeated missile launches this year and its sixth nuclear test, the UN Security Council has strongly condemned these acts.It is totally unacceptable that North Korea belligerently launched another ballistic missile in such situation

3.Since the beginning of this year, North Korea has launched more than 10 ballistic missiles that could become the delivery means of weapons of mass destruction, including the two intercontinental-class ballistic missile launches in July and the ballistic missile launch in August that flew over the Japanese territory, and conducted its sixth nuclear test on September 3. Furthermore, as was the case on August 29, it appears that the missile launched today flew over Japan and fell into the Pacific Ocean. This successive launch of time of ballistic missiles flying over Japan in a short time period is a grave act of provocation that unilaterally raises tensions in the region further, and demonstrates that North Korea is steadily improving the capability and credibility of its ballistic missiles. A series of acts of provocation are a direct challenge to the international community, and pose an unprecedentedly grave and imminent threat to the security of the region, including Japan. Today’s missile launch 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, expressing the strong indignation of the Japanese people and condemning 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 2375 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.