Australia’s Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada believe the threat of nuclear weapons is “one of the most serious issues that humankind faces,” they said in a statement today after a meeting in Perth, Australia.
The foreign minister of Japan, Australia’s second-largest trading partner, was also due to discuss issues including whaling, North Korea and climate change during a two-day visit.
Okada met yesterday in Sydney with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who said last week that Australia will take Japan to the International Court of Justice this year unless it agrees to stop killing whales in Antarctica.
It was unfortunate that Australia had threatened the legal action, though it shouldn’t affect ties between the two nations, Agence France-Presse reported, citing Okada at a press conference after today’s talks. Japan would defend the legality of its whaling should a case be started, AFP said, citing Okada.
Australia remained hopeful of a diplomatic solution, though will proceed through the court should talks fail, AFP said, citing Smith,
Iron ore and natural gas were also on the agenda, with Japan seeking to “secure a stable supply of resources,” Hidenobu Sobashima, a spokesman for Okada, said yesterday in Sydney.
