Both houses of the Diet unanimously adopted resolutions Thursday condemning North Korea's missile launch earlier in the week and urging the government to take a stern stance against Pyongyang.
As Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi criticized a statement by North Korea that the missile test Monday was a "matter of our national sovereignty," the Upper and Lower houses denounced Pyongyang's action as an "unforgivable act."
The separate resolutions each say the missile launch poses a serious threat to Japan's security and sovereignty, as well as to the peace and stability of North Asia. Saying the launch was held without any consideration that the missile might land on Japanese territory, the resolutions condemned the act as both reckless and extremely dangerous.