[Provisional Translation]

1. North Korea's plan to launch a missile, which it calls a "satellite," is a violation of relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the Security Council Presidential Statement, which was issued at the time of the missile launch in April of this year. The Government of Japan would find it extremely deplorable should North Korea proceed with the launch, and the international community, including Japan, is obliged to take a decisive response. Japan strongly urges North Korea to comply with the relevant Security Council Resolutions and the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks, exercise restraint, and refrain from conducting the launch. At the same time, all possible measures must be taken to ensure the security of the lives and property of the Japanese people in the event that North Korea proceeds with the launch.
   
   
2. Today (December 1), bearing in mind North Korea's announcement of its plan to launch a missile, which it calls a "satellite," I have given out the following instructions:
   
   (1) Take all possible measures to gather and analyze information through the cooperation of the relevant ministries and agencies, while closely coordinating with countries concerned.
   
   (2) Strongly urge North Korea to exercise restraint and refrain from conducting the launch, in coordination with countries concerned, including the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China, and Russia.
   
   (3) Take all possible measures to ensure the safety and security of the Japanese people, including fully preparing for contingencies.
   
   
3. Accordingly, in order for the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces to adopt the necessary posture, today, the Minister of Defense issued a preparatory order for measures to destroy ballistic missiles to carry out the required preparations.
   
   
4. In order to ensure the safety and security of the Japanese people, the Government will communicate the necessary information promptly and accurately to the people, local public bodies, media outlets, and other parties by utilizing a variety of means.
   
   
5. On the foreign policy front, bearing in mind my instructions and through the leadership of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and in close coordination with countries concerned, Japan will strongly urge North Korea to exercise restraint.
   
   
6. These matters were discussed a moment ago among four ministers, including myself, and we shared the same recognition.
   
   
7. Concerning the Japan-North Korea Government-level consultations scheduled for December 5 and 6, Japan has notified its counterpart that the consultations will be postponed, based on the view that it would be difficult to hold them in light of the overall situation.