Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO)

Koga says!
Statement on North Korea’s missile launches

1. Today, North Korea fired six missiles, including what is believed to have been a Taepodong-2 (North Korean made ballistic missile), into the Sea of Japan off the coast of Russia. RENGO considers it not only a grave action ignoring repeated warnings of its neighboring countries, including Japan, and the United States, but a serious threat to the peace and safety of the northeast Asia. RENGO strongly protests against it.
   
   
2. Japan and the North Korea confirmed in the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration “the necessity of resolving security problems including nuclear and missile issues by promoting dialogues among countries concerned”. North Korea pledged in the Declaration that it “would further maintain the moratorium on missile launching in and after 2003”. We are concerned that the launches broke the promises made in the Declaration prescribing the establishment of the security through dialogue. In addition, it is unforgivable that North Korea took a provocative action to Japan in a circumstance that the Japanese abductees issue has made no progress until today.
   
   
3. The Japanese authority has reportedly invoked a half-year port ban on the cargo-passenger boat Mangyongbong-92 (which makes regular visits to Japan from North Korea), imposed as economic sanctions, by applying the Special Measure Law to Ban Specified-vessels to enter Port. RENGO requests the Government to take resolute measures, including economic sanctions, in a firm manner.
   
   
4. The UN Security Council is due to hold an urgent meeting in the evening of 5 July (Japan time). RENGO, as wanting the peace and stability of the international community, requests North Korea to recognize the seriousness of the problem it has caused and demands a settlement of the situation in the international cooperation and harmony without a moment’s delay. Furthermore, RENGO demands that North Korea unconditionally return to the six-party talks immediately that has been suspended and focus its efforts on the realization of easing strained relations in the Far East and the creation of trust of the international community.