US, South Korea, and Japan Foreign Ministers "Condemn North Korea for Using Limited Resources on Weapons Instead of Residents"

Joint Statement by Foreign Ministers of Korea, the US, and Japan
Three Countries: "North Korea's Provocations Threaten International Peace"
US: "Unwavering US Defense Commitment to Korea and Japan"

Meeting of South Korea, US, and Japan Foreign Ministers in New York last September (Photo by Yonhap News)

The foreign ministers of South Korea, the United States, and Japan issued a joint statement condemning North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches carried out on the 17th and 18th. The South Korea-U.S.-Japan foreign ministers expressed regret over the North Korean regime's decision to divert limited resources to its weapons programs instead of its people, stating that "North Korea's continuous provocations seriously threaten peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, in the region, and internationally," and called for an immediate halt.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 21st, the three countries released the "Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of South Korea, the United States, and Japan on North Korea's ICBM and Other Ballistic Missile Launches." The foreign ministers noted that "these missile launches, conducted without prior notification, also threatened the safety of civil aviation and navigation in the region." In particular, the U.S. side emphasized that "the U.S. defense commitment to South Korea and Japan is ironclad and supported by capabilities across all domains, including nuclear."

The three foreign ministers stated, "These launches blatantly violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions once again, and we remind all countries of the need to fully implement Security Council resolutions related to North Korea that prohibit the acquisition of technology and materials for the illegal missile program," and urged "an immediate cessation of all acts violating Security Council resolutions."

They further declared, "We oppose North Korea's continued illegal development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. We reaffirm that North Korea's human rights abuses are inseparable from the illegal advancement of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. We will continue to closely cooperate with the international community to block funding for these illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs."

The three countries also added that, together with the international community, they urge North Korea to halt further provocations and respond to calls for substantive dialogue without preconditions.