[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] At the Quad summit meeting consisting of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, the leaders agreed to work towards the complete denuclearization of North Korea, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on the 24th.
According to NHK and other broadcasts, Prime Minister Kishida stated at a press conference held after the Quad summit at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo, "We also discussed North Korea, which has continued to launch ballistic missiles this month and is actively engaged in nuclear and missile activities, and agreed on cooperation for the complete denuclearization of North Korea."
Kishida also introduced that "there was a discussion about ensuring that no geographical gaps are created concerning the worsening COVID-19 infection situation in North Korea." He added that the four leaders shared the view on the urgent need to resolve the issue of Japanese abducted by North Korea.
The four Quad leaders shared the recognition that unilateral changes by force, keeping in mind China and others amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, should not be allowed in any region, and agreed to strengthen coordination among the four countries, Kishida said. He emphasized that they frankly discussed the impact of the Ukraine situation on the Indo-Pacific region, with India also participating to express concerns about the Ukraine war, and confirmed that the principles of the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity must be upheld in any region.
The in-person Quad summit meeting was held for the first time in eight months since September 24 last year in Washington DC, USA. Prime Minister Kishida attended in person along with U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
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