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(Unofficial translation)
March 13, 2009
Statement on North Korea's move towards a rocket launch
North Korea has been making preparations for the launch of
what appears to be a Taepodong-2 ballistic missile and announced
yesterday, March 12, that it had notified the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) of its plan to launch a satellite between April 4
and 8.
Whatever pretext North Korea may give, it should refrain from any action which undermines
the peace and stability of the North East Asian region including Japan. Any action of this nature
would be extremely regrettable.
Even if the object to be launched is a booster-rocket for a satellite,
as North Korea claims, given that launch vehicles for satellites and
ballistic missiles are based on common technology, this launch clearly
runs contrary to the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration of 2002 and is
also in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1695
and 1718, which called for the suspension of all
activities related to North Korea's ballistic missile program. There is no
acceptable reason for this launch.
Furthermore, North Korea's inflexible attitude is an affront to the
long-standing effort toward the peaceful resolution of North Korea's
nuclear development issue made through the system of the Six-Party
Talks. North Korea should
seriously reconsider its actions.
North Korea's announcement to launch is extremely regrettable. I
sincerely hope that North Korea will listen to the wishes of the
international community and reconsider its decision.
KONO Taro
Member of the House of Representatives
Chairman, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs
Parliament of Japan
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