Japan lauds Indonesia`s strong reaction against N Korean missile

The Ambassador of Japan to Indonesia, Masafumi Ishii, here on Wednesday lauded the strong and quick response of Indonesian government against the North Korean missile launched over the former country on Tuesday.

"The Indonesian government has known our position quite well (on North Korean missile). We really appreciate the quick, strong, and tough response from the country following the launch," Ishii said in Jakarta.

Hence, the ambassador stated that the Japanese government will continue to maintain communication not only with Indonesia but also with other southeast Asian countries.

"We hope in the future, more countries would be consolidated, because if we could be more united, the measures to stop North Korea will be more effective," he remarked, after delivering a speech on the award granted to Sugako Kaikiri, the adviser of Enjuku theatre group, on Tuesday.

Despite the Security Council enforcing some resolutions and sanctions on North Korea, Ishii believes that the UN body still has an important role to resolve the issue.

"I think the Security Council resolutions continue to be the most important backing for putting pressure on North Korea, because the rules reflect the consensus of the international community as a whole," Ishii noted.

Therefore, the ambassador believes that Japan, together with United States and South Korea, will continue to step up their efforts in the Security Council.

"It is important to know that the North Korean missile is a serious threat and challenge to the world community as a whole. Therefore, I hope in the future, not only those countries affected directly would step up their efforts but also the international community will improve their response against the missile," he reiterated.

Following the launch, the ambassador noted that the Japanese government has not supplied any appropriate information to the public.

"We also have exchanged notes and news with the media of Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, about the Japanese government positions (toward the missile)," he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi remarked that Indonesian government has always been consistent in denouncing the missile launched by North Korea.

"Indonesian government will not stand witnessing a single country that keep violating the resolutions issued by the Security Council," the minister stated at the Merdeka Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

She believed that the missile issue would be further discussed at the General Assembly meeting held in New York in Sept.

Source: ANTARA