On July 4, DPJ Next Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshio Hachiro and Next Minister of Defence Keiichiro Asao issued the following statement.

Today, it is reported that North Korea conducted launches of short-range ballistic missiles. If this is true, it is a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution that calls [on North Korea] not to implement launches of ballistic missiles, and a provocative act that threatens the security of the region. This is something that certainly cannot be permitted and we strongly protest it.

The Democratic Party of Japan strongly urges North Korea to immediate desist from words and actions which threaten the peace and stability of the region, cease all activities that relate to its ballistic missile project, and completely abide by United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The Japanese government should carefully monitor developments in North Korea that threaten the security of our nation, as well as take the necessary measures to implement the United Nations Security Council resolution.