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On November 26, a plenary session of the House of Representatives was convened. The House unanimously adopted a resolution regarding the shelling by North Korea of Yeonpyeong island in the Republic of Korea.
Prior to the adoption of the resolution, Yorihisa Matsuno read out the proposal on behalf of all the political groupings in the Lower House.
Following the adoption of the resolution, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said, “The current affair is an unpardonable act of violence, and this resolution expresses our strong censure. Furthermore, we express our support for the position of the government of the Republic of Korea.” Kan added that the government would engage in the situation by following the outline set forth in the resolution. He also expressed similar words of censure in the plenary session of the House of Councillors that was held immediately prior to the House of Representatives plenary session.
Text of the resolution regarding the shelling of Yeonpyeong island in the Republic of Korea by North Korea (tentative translation)
On November 23, North Korea directed an attack of approximately 170 shells toward the island of Yeonpyeong and its coastal waters in the Republic of Korea. The damage caused by the attack extended not simply to the ROK’s military base and personnel, but to civilians and residential areas. Such indiscriminate shellings are an inexcusable act of violence. Whatever the excuses may be given by North Korea, inflammatory acts that involve the use of force against civilians are totally unforgivable.
The Diet offers its deepest condolences to the government and people of the ROK for the victims of this attack, and extends its prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The armistice signed at the end of the Korean War must be observed, and t North Korea’s shellings of the ROK is an inflammatory act which cannot be ignored by the international community.
The Diet condemns the shellings carried out by North Korea, as well as strongly urging North Korea to abandon all inflammatory military acts, including the development of nuclear weapons, and to seek an early resolution to the abduction issue.
The government of Japan should firmly censure the military acts of violence carried out by North Korea on this occasion, support the position of the government of the Republic of North Korea, and consider implementing fresh sanctions and the like, while liaising closely with the international community. In addition the government should increase efforts to strengthen Japan’s liaison with concerned countries, including the Republic of Korea and the United States, in order to increase international pressure on North Korea.
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