June 30 - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice traveled to Kyoto June 26-28 for the G8 Foreign Ministers' meeting. She made remarks to the traveling press regarding the North Korean declaration June 26. She stated in remarks with Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura on June 27, "We have had a very good discussion of the North Korea issue and affirmed, again, that the next important step is for North Korea to cooperate fully so that we can verify the completeness and the accuracy of the declaration that it has submitted, and so that we can move forward on our ultimate goal, the North’s complete abandonment of its nuclear weapons and its nuclear programs." While in Kyoto, Secretary Rice also participated with her Australian and Japanese counterparts in the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue.

• Secretary's Remarks at G-8 Foreign Ministers Press Conference
• G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting page, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website

June 27 - President George W. Bush discussed North Korea on June 26 in the Rose Garden of the White House. President Bush stated, "The policy of the United States is a Korean Peninsula free of all nuclear weapons. This morning, we moved a step closer to that goal, when North Korean officials submitted a declaration of their nuclear programs to the Chinese government as part of the six-party talks." Regarding the abduction issue, the President emphasized, "it is important for the Japanese people to know that the United States will not abandon our strong ally and friend when it comes to helping resolve that issue." [Full statement]

The White House also released the following:

• Proclamation by the President: Termination of the Exercise of Authorities Under the Trading with the Enemy Act with Enemy Act with Respect to North Korea
• Executive Order: Continuing Certain Restrictions with Respect to North Korea and North Korean Nationals
• Memorandum for the Secretary of State
• Statement by the White House Press Secretary
• Message to the Congress of the United States

On the same day, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated in an Op-Ed in The Wall Street Journal, "We believe that the six-party framework is the best way to learn more about the threat posed by this closed and opaque regime, and ultimately, together with partners, to eliminate North Korea's nuclear weapons and programs." [State Department Fact Sheet]

June 26 - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Kyoto June 26-28 to attend the G8 Ministerial to discuss G8 commitments on health, disease prevention, and open markets, as well as prepare for the G8 summit to be held in Lake Toya, Japan in July. While in Kyoto, she will also participate with her Australian and Japanese counterparts in the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue, in which they will discuss global issues and areas of cooperation in East Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. [More about the Secretary's travel]

June 24 - The Embassy would like to help Japanese and Japan-based graduates, former students, and prospective students of U.S. educational institutions network to share information and experiences, by posting on our website a list of U.S. alumni/ae clubs or associations in Japan. If your U.S. alma mater has an alumni/ae group in Japan, please let us know by clicking here. If you are interested in studying in the United States in the future, we have a wealth of information on our "Study in the USA" page.

June 23 - Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher R. Hill visited Japan June 19-20 for consultations with his Japanese and Korean counterparts regarding the six-party talks and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

• Remarks upon Arrival • Bilateral Press Availability

• Trilateral Press Availability • Remarks upon Departure

June 19 - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice addressed the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. on June 18 on the United States' policy toward Asia. Secretary Rice stated, "Since 2001, one of our Administration’s highest priorities has been to deepen the prospects for peace and security in Northeast Asia, and I believe we are succeeding in that effort. We have reaffirmed and modernized our historic alliances with fellow democracies, Japan and South Korea." [Full text]

June 19 - "Our planet's endangered animals are vanishing at an alarming rate. Connect the dots and you discover a thin line separates a buyer from a killer," states actor and activist Harrison Ford in public service announcements for the State Department's campaign against illegal wildlife trafficking. At the campaign's June 9 launch in Washington, Special Envoy Bo Derek, noting the difficulty of ever creating "parks and reserves to protect these animals that have such a huge bounty on their head," emphasized the importance of public awareness to reduce the demand which leads to poaching. [Watch the videos and find out more about the campaign]

June 17 - Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. headed the U.S. delegation to the June 13-14 G8 Finance Ministers' Meeting in Osaka. Following the meeting, Secretary Paulson told the press, "The U.S. economy continues to face challenges including the housing correction, financial market turmoil, and high energy prices which continue to weigh on growth. While we are still working through housing and capital markets issues, and expect to be doing so for some time, we also expect to see a faster pace of U.S. economic growth before the end of the year, while recognizing that the recent increase in oil prices risks prolonging the U.S. economic downturn."

• Full text of Secretary Paulson's statement
• Joint Statements by G8 Finance Ministers

June 16 - Alexander A. Arvizu, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, appeared before the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on June 12 to discuss "U.S.-Japan Relations: Partnership and Progress." [Full statement]

June 13 - William J. Burns visited Japan on his first trip overseas since becoming State Department Under Secretary for Political Affairs, stating that his trip "helps underscore the enormous significance of the U.S.-Japan alliance, which remains crucially important to both of our interests in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world." Under Secretary Burns spoke to a media roundtable, pictured, at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo on June 10. [Transcript]

June 13 - Regarding the External Independent Investigative Review Panel's final Report on the activities of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in North Korea, which found broad management deficiencies, the State Department commented on June 12 that "The United States remains concerned about the breakdowns in UNDP’s management system, and is committed to the idea of a UNDP that addresses its weaknesses and in so doing better realizes its intended purpose - to help the world’s poor." [Full text]

June 11 - In a June 10 Press Statement in Washington, State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack expressed the United States' appreciation for the recent report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Burma, which compiles important evidence of continuing violations of human rights in the country. [UN Press Release] [Full text of UN report]

June 10 - The Public Affairs Office of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan (CNFJ) recently launched a "manga" (Japanese comic book) about the USS George Washington, the nuclear aircraft carrier to be deployed to Yokosuka Naval Base in the months ahead. Entitled "CVN 73," the story depicts life aboard the vessel through the eyes of a Japanese-American sailor on his first deployment to Japan. Download the CNFJ manga in English or in Japanese.

June 9 - On June 8 in Tokyo, Ambassador Schieffer joined Prime Minister Fukuda in a live videoconference with astronauts aboard the International Space Station from the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) in Odaiba. They spoke with Japanese Astronaut Hoshide and Space Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly who were inside the newly delivered Kibo Module aboard the Space Station. MEXT Minister Tokai and students from Astronaut Hoshide's elementary and junior high schools also participated.

June 5 - On June 4 in Washington, the State Department released its 2008 Trafficking in Persons Report, which examines both labor slavery and sex trafficking. Secretary Rice emphasized, "The United States stands ready to work with our partners around the world to expose the evil of human trafficking. We hope this report encourages responsible nations across the globe to stand together, to speak with one voice, and to say that freedom and security are non-negotiable demands of human dignity. Together I believe this movement of governments, civil society, and brave individuals of conscience can rescue, rehabilitate, and restore the lives of those who have been treated as less than human." [Full remarks]

June 4 - On June 3 in Washington, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the Interim Final Rule for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The ESTA web-based system will be available for voluntary applications after August 1, 2008. DHS anticipates implementation of the mandatory ESTA requirements on January 12, 2009. Once ESTA is mandatory, all nationals or citizens of VWP countries who plan to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure under the VWP will need to receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or cruise ship. [DHS Press Release] [Frequently asked questions]

June 2 - Space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew (STS-124), including Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 5:02 p.m. EDT May 31 to deliver and install the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory on the International Space Station. STS-124 is the second of three flights to launch components to complete Kibo, and carries Kibo's tour bus-sized Japanese Pressurized Module, which will be the station's largest module. [More]