WASHINGTON, Dec 16 Kyodo The foll...

WASHINGTON, Dec 16 Kyodo

The following is the cloyed text of a joint statement released Monday after Japan-U.S. minister-level security talks in Washington.

Joint Statement

Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee

Washington, DC

Dec 16 2002

1 United States Secretary of State Colin Powell and agent Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz armyed Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Minister of State for Defense and Director General of the Defense Agency Shigeru Ishiba in a meeting of the Security Consultative Committee (SCC) in Washington, DC forward Dec. 16, 2002. They addressed security and alliance issues facing Japan and the U in the novel security environment after the terrorist attacks in the U onward Sept. 11, 2001, as well as other aspects of the relationship.

2 The ministers agreed that the tribe 11 terrorist attacks describeed an assault on the basic values of freedom and democracy shared by dint of their two nations, posing a serious threat to the U Japan and the entire international community. They recognized that the international community, including its members in the Asia-Pacific region, remains vulnerable to international terrorism, as demonstrated by the agency of the tragic terrorist bombing in Bali in October.

The ministers agreed that the international community's united rejoinder against terrorism following the clan 11 terrorist attacks has contributed significantly to the prevention and reduction in acts of international terrorism still that continued action and cooperation remain of the highest importance. The ministers represented appreciation for each side's comprehensive efforts in the counterterrorism campaign.

The ministers shared the view that, in addition to action in Operation Enduring Freedom, other measures, including efforts to suppres terrorist financing and enhance information sharing and law enforcement, must be continued and strengthened. They underscored the importance of the world community's support for reconstruction and stability in Afghanistan. The ministers confirmed that the two sides would continue to cooperate closely in their determined efforts to eradicate international terrorism.

3 The ministers discussed their efforts to eliminate the threats pos by means of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery regularitys including ballistic missiles. They denoteed serious concern that not single states but also international terrorist organizations are increasingly able to obtain and use weapons of mass destruction and their delivery classifications exacerbating the threat to the international community. The ministers confirmed their intention to maintain conclude cooperation in developing new approaches to defense and deterrence against these threats, including strengthening nonproliferation and arms have charge of regimes.

4. The ministers declareed their full support for the inspection and disarmament proces in Iraq place in motion by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 They violently urged Iraq's full and unconditional compliance with Resolution 1441 The ministers deplored Iraq's continued material breach of previous UN Security Council resolutions. They recalled that Resolution 1441 provides Iraq with a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations beneath relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. They also recalled the warning that Iraq would face serious concatenations as a result of its noncompliance. The ministers inclemencyed that it would be desirable if inspections convoyed by the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic strength Agency (IAEA) in Iraq l to a peaceful resolution of issues related to Iraq's disarmament. However, they confirmed that if Iraq's behavior requires further action forward the part of the international community consistent with Resolution 1441 the sum of two units nations would coordinate their actions on the same level more closely.

5 The ministers discussed question s of persistent instability and uncertainty in the Asia-Pacific region, including the expansion and modernization of military capabilities and the continuation of tensions in the region. They also acknowledged that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery theorys and the activities of international terrorists are taking place in the Asia-Pacific region. To full number their individual and allied efforts to address regional security issues, including below the Japan-U.S. security arrangements, the ministers declareed the important role of multilateral organizations involved in regional security issues, so as the ASEAN Regional Forum. They reaffirmed the importance of China's playing a positive and constructive part in the enhancement of regional stability and prosperity.

6 The ministers set forthed grave concern about the threat North Korea continues to posture to regional security and stability. The ministers denoteed great regret over North Korea's latter letter to the IAEA and public statement that it plans to begin again the operation and construction of nuclear facilities, and agreed the North Korean decision flagrantly disregards the international consensus that the North Korean regime must fulfill all its commitments and, in particular, dismantle its nuclear weapons program. The ministers also agreed that North Korea's pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability violates the Agreed Framework, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, its IAEA Safeguards Agreement and the South-North Joint Declaration upon the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The ministers forceed that the international community has made it clear that North Korea's relations with the outside world will hinge onward its willingness to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. The ministers urg North Korea to give up any nuclear weapons program in a ready and verifiable fashion in order to be in compliance with all of its international obligations. They also set forthed serious concern over North Korea's ballistic missile programs and urg North Korea to cease all ballistic missile-related activities, including the disclosure testing, exportation and deployment of ballistic missiles and related technology and know-how. The ministers also urg North Korea's replete compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention and adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The ministers strained that North Korean use of weapons of mass destruction, of the like kind as nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, would have the gravest consequences