Shii issues statement protesting against N. Korea’s ballistic missile launch

May 22, 2017

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Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on May 21issued the following statement regarding North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launch:

Despite a stern warning from the international community, North Korea on May 21 again carried out a ballistic missile launch. This launch was conducted while the UN Security Council was discussing North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile on May 14, which was an outrageous act. Such a deed constitutes a severe threat to world peace and stability and is reckless action violating past resolutions of the UN Security Council, the joint statement of the Six-Party talks, and the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration. The JCP strongly protests North Korea’s act.

The only way to resolve this matter is to initiate a diplomatic approach, not to use armed force that may lead to a catastrophe. The urgent task is to take a step toward diplomatic negotiations with the North in parallel with fully imposing and strengthening economic sanctions, and urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons and missile development programs in diplomatic negotiations. The JCP calls on the countries concerned to be devoted to resolve the North Korea issue through dialogue, including reconvening the Six-Party Talks.