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In light of North Korea going ahead with the launch of a missile, which it called a “satellite,” on April 13, concentrated debate took place on foreign policy and security issues, among other matters, in the House of Representatives Committee on Budget on the morning of April 18. Makiko Kikuta, DPJ member of the House of Representatives, stood before the Committee and asked questions to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba, Minister of Defense Naoki Tanaka, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura about issues including: (1) the Prime Minister’s intention and determination to deter further provocative actions by North Korea and to protect the safety of Japan; (2) measures to resolve the abduction issue; (3) initiatives to reach out to China, which can influence North Korea; (4) the Senkaku Islands issue; (5) the partnership with U.S. forces to deter provocative actions in the future; (6) verification of the situation of information confirmation and dissemination to the people at the time of the launch; and (7) diplomatic efforts toward the achievement of peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.
Kikuta noted that North Korea has gone forward with an underground nuclear test shortly after a missile launch test twice before and stated that, “An array of measures must be taken to deter North Korea’s provocative actions and to protect the safety of Japan.” Prime Minister Noda responded that, “The recent launch is a provocative action that has caused grave security concerns by eroding the peace and stability of the region and of Japan. It is an act that violates a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Japan strongly urges North Korea to take seriously the Security Council’s Presidential Statement by immediately and fully complying with existing resolutions and not proceeding with any further provocative actions, including launches and nuclear tests.” The Prime Minister indicated that Japan will take measures in close coordination with relevant countries, including the United States, the Republic of Korea, China, and Russia.
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