Foreign minister defends 'axis of evil' remark as 'warning'

Foreign Minister Kawaguchi Yoriko in a House of Representatives committee meeting on February 15 defended U.S. President George W. Bush's "axis of evil" remark as just a strong "warning" towards North Korea, Iran, and Iraq.

The foreign minister's submission to the United States was the same as that of Prime Minister Koizumi who commented on the Bush remark as indicating the president's "tremendous resolve" in the war against terror.

Noting that the "axis of evil" remark is under fire from cabinet ministers of France, Germany, and South Korea, Japanese Communist Party Akamine Seiken said that the U.S. president meant the possibility of unilateral military attack on these countries.

Akamine said that such U.S. moves would divide the united international effort to end terrorism, and called on the government to advise the U.S. president that such moves are violating the United Nations Charter and international law. Kawaguchi replied, "Close cooperation between Japan and the United States will be sought." (end)