apan welcomes U.N. statement condemning sinking of S. Korean ship+

J

TOKYO, July 9 Kyodo -
Japan welcomed Friday a presidential statement adopted by the U.N. Security
Council condemning the deadly sinking of a South Korean warship in March that
Seoul blames on North Korea, calling it ''a clear message of the international
community about a North Korean attack.''
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said in a statement that the Security Council
expressed deep concern over the sinking of the South Korean ship and stressed
the importance of preventing further attacks or hostile activities based on the
results of a multinational investigation into the case.
The probe led by South Korea with the participation of representatives from
Australia, Britain, Canada, Sweden and the United States concluded a torpedo
fired by a North Korean submarine sank the naval ship and killed 46 sailors.
The foreign minister said Japan believes the North's attack on the 1,200-ton
corvette Cheonan is ''impermissible'' as it threatens regional and
international peace and stability. Strongly supporting South Korea's stand,
Japan has made diplomatic efforts to issue a clear message through the U.N.
council, he said.
Tokyo will continue to closely cooperate with countries such as South Korea and
the United States and vehemently urge Pyongyang to sincerely accept the message
unanimously issued by the international community and not take actions that
would aggravate the situation, Okada said.
==Kyodo
2010-07-10 00:34:34


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