(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone

Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 9:20 a.m.
Place: In front of the Cabinet Meeting Room in the House

Main topics:

Opening Statement
- The Second Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (2+2 Meeting)
North Korean Issues
The Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting

1. Opening Statement

The Second Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (2+2 Meeting)

Minister:
The Second Japan-Australia Joint Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (2+2 Meeting) will be held on December 18. We have been coordinating these consultations since November and it will finally take place in Tokyo. We will discuss topics such as bilateral security issues.

Related Information (Joint Statement)

2. North Korean Issues

Question:
The Six-Party Talks did not yield any developments this time and there have been media reports saying that the US is reconsidering their energy aid to North Korea. What are your thoughts on future perspectives?

Minister:
I know of these reports. I believe that the countries that will play a central role in aiding North Korea such as the ROK and the US will thoroughly discuss this issue and deal with it accordingly. Japan's policy on this matter will not change.

3. The Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting

Question:
Would you please tell us again what the outcomes of the first independent Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit were?

Minister:
As the Prime Minister has said, I believe that this meeting had great significance, unlike previous trilateral summit meetings held alongside other meetings, because the three countries gathered independently to discuss various issues. This contributes greatly, not only to the development and peace of the three countries, but to the development and peace of Asia and the entire world, and I believe that this was a very good meeting.

Question:
During the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit, close interaction at the foreign minister level was called for. Please tell us how you plan to go about doing this.

Minister:
There was a call for close interaction at a summit level. Of course meeting or making phone calls at the foreign minister level is important as well. We should take advantage of every opportunity to hold close consultations among the three countries.

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