Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, 2009

JAPANESE

The Prime Minister Attends Plenary Sessions of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Representatives (1)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Representatives (1)

Prime Minister Taro Aso attended the plenary session of the House of Representatives on May 26, and the plenary session of the House of Councillors on May 27.

During each of the sessions, a draft resolution protesting the implementation of a nuclear test by North Korea was submitted, which was unanimously adopted by vote.

Following the adoption of the resolution, Prime Minister Aso delivered a policy speech. He said, "The announcement that North Korea made on May 25 that it had conducted a nuclear test is totally unacceptable, as it constitutes a grave threat to Japan's security as well as seriously undermines the peace and security of Northeast Asia and the international community when taken together with North Korea's enhancement of its ballistic missile capability. It also significantly undermines a globally heightening momentum toward nuclear disarmament. Thus Japan lodges a serious protest against North Korea, and strongly condemns its nuclear test. Such action clearly violates United Nations Security Council resolution 1718 and contravenes the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration and the Joint Declaration of the Six-Party Talks. It also represents a grave challenge to an international regime for nuclear non-proliferation. The government, bearing in mind the principle of the resolution adopted today, shall continue to collaborate closely not least with Japan's ally the United States as well as with other countries concerned, so as to ensure the security of the country and the safety of its people, and shall swiftly consider the measures that need to be taken. On that basis, we will make efforts toward the nuclear abandonment by North Korea. The government has renewed its determination and will take practical and steady steps to strengthen an international regime for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation."

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Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Representatives (2)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Representatives (2)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Councillors (1)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Councillors (1)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Councillors (2)

Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Councillors (2)

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  • Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Representatives (1)
  • Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Representatives (2)
  • Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Councillors (1)
  • Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering a policy speech on a resolution during the plenary session of the House of Councillors (2)