Protest letter against the DPRK nuclear test (January 6, 2016)

January 6, 2016

His Excellency Mr. Kim Jong-Un
First Chairman of the National Defense Commission
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Letter of Protest

With the goal of eradicating nuclear weapons by 2020, the City of Hiroshima has exerted its utmost effort to urge world policymakers to solidify their political intent to pursue nuclear weapons abolition. This year, an open-ended working group for the realization of a world without nuclear weapons will be convened as a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly. Despite such efforts, we have just learned that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has conducted a hydrogen bomb test.

Your action is not only in direct opposition to the aim of the working group and other earnest efforts of the international community for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, but is callously trampling on our hibakusha’s ardent wish for peace, which was born from their suffering and deep sorrow. I am outraged and cannot tolerate this deed of violence. On behalf of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima, I vehemently protest.

I once again demand in the strongest possible terms for your country to immediately abandon nuclear weapons and all programs related to their development, and to engage in a diplomatic effort through dialogue and collaboration with global society.

MATSUI Kazumi
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima