May
15,
2003 
Ambassador Ryozo Kato,
Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States of
America
Ambassador Kato started his lecture with a short historical review of the U.S.-Japan relation. He underlined that in the last 150 years, Japan and the United States have gone from strangers to enemies to friends and allies. He pointed out that today, Japan-U.S. cooperation is stronger than ever.
The Ambassador spoke at great length about terrorism, Iraq, and North Korea. He briefed the Executive Lecture Forum (ELF) members about Japan's contribution in the fight against international terrorism. "It is not widely known," he said, "that Japan deployed five Navel ships into the Indian Ocean and also aircraft to provide support for the U.S. and Allies Forces in the campaign against Iraq.
Ambassador Kato expressed deep concern that North Korea is spending 30-35% of its entire GDP on its military. In addition, North Korea has already revealed that it has nuclear weapon. The Ambassador believes Japan is the main target of North Korean nuclear weapons.
He closed his very well-received remarks by telling again and again that Japan's security is guaranteed by the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, which is the only deterrent against North Korean missiles with nuclear warheads directed towards Japanese cities.
