The Thursday, September 21, 2017 visit by H.E. Tarō Kōno, Foreign Minster of Japan, to Columbia University has drawn international media coverage. The sold-out event–the Foreign Minister’s only public address during his visit to the United States–was co-sponsored by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, the Center on Japanese Economy and Business of Columbia Business School, and the APEC Study Center. During his speech and subsequent discussion with Columbia students, Foreign Minister Kōno addressed diplomatic issues concerning North Korea, China, the United States, and the Middle East.
Read the full transcript of Foreign Minister Kōno’s speech here.
In his speech, Foreign Minister Kōno called on countries to cut diplomatic and economic ties with North Korea to pressure the country’s regime to stop advancing its nuclear and missile efforts. “We have to urge these countries to cut their diplomatic and economic relationships with North Korea,” Kōno said. “It is not the time for dialogue for the sake of dialogue. Now is the time for the international community as a whole to maximize the pressure on North Korea to take concrete actions toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
The Foreign Minister also expressed support for improved relations with China. “We are the second and third largest economies in the world. Hence, we have a great responsibility for the peace and prosperity of the region,” he said. “Therefore, we should not confront each other. We should not allow tension to dominate the entirety of Asia.”
Media outlets that have covered the Foreign Minister Kōno’s Columbia visit include:
NHK (In Japanese): “河野外相 北朝鮮の核断念は中国・ロシアも同じ考え”
Kyodo News: “Kono urges all countries to cut ties with N Korea”
Agence France-Presse: “Japan FM urges countries to cut ties with N.Korea”
Jiji Press: “Japan’s Kōno Urges All Nations to Sever Ties with North Korea”
Huffington Post (in Japanese): “「北朝鮮と断交を」河野太郎外相、世界に要求”
Sankei (in Japanese): “対北断交１６０カ国に要求 河野太郎外相、米コロンビア大で講演 北のＩＣＢＭ「ニューヨークにも到達可能な技術の開発推進“
