(* 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 Masahiko Koumura

Date: Tuesday, September 5, 2008, 10:48 a.m.
Place: Press Conference Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topic:

North Korean Issues

1. North Korean Issues

Minister:
Last night we were contacted through the Japanese Embassy route in Beijing with a message from the North Korean side to the effect that North Korea is in the position to implement the agreed matters that were reached in the Japan-North Korea Working-level Consultations. However, due to the latest situation that has occurred on the Japan side in which there is an unexpected, sudden change in the government of Japan, North Korea will withhold establishing the investigation committee until it has had an opportunity to squarely determine the ideas held by the new administration in Japan regarding the implementation of the agreed matters. From Japan's perspective, we have thus far stated that we would like an authoritative investigation committee to be established as soon as possible and results to be forthcoming by this autumn, and that we would hope for the discovery and return of survivors. As such, we feel it is extremely unfortunate that we have received this message this time. We intend to continue to urge North Korea to launch an investigation as quickly as possible.

Question:
Naturally, these latest moves are associated with the circumstances on the Japan side, but what is your view on the fact that they are postponing the implementation of the matters simply because of these circumstances, even though both countries have mutually agreed on the matters in question?

Minister:
It is extremely unfortunate and a regrettable occurrence.

Question:
Have you conveyed to the North Korean side that Japan found North Korea's latest decision unfortunate and regrettable and that Japan would like an investigative committee to be established as quickly as possible?

Minister:
North Korea has just made its response to the request Japan had made a little while before yesterday that North Korea launch an investigation quickly.

Question:
Did Japan make the request during the time span after the announcement by Prime Minister Fukuda of his resignation and before the end of yesterday?

Minister:
Yes, that is the case. We have conveyed our wishes in this regard to North Korea on many occasions. There have also been various exchanges of views as to what kind of investigative committee is to be established. In the course of those exchanges, ultimately from our side on Tuesday of this week we explained to North Korea that we would like them to establish an investigative committee and launch the investigation, and this is the kind of response we got from them last night.

Question:
Is it the case that the Japanese Embassy in Beijing was contacted from the North Korean Embassy in Beijing?

Minister:
Yes, that is what happened. Normally, contact between the embassies is the primary route.

Question:
Has the response that North Korea has given this time been conveyed to Prime Minister Fukuda already?

Minister:
Yes, it has already been communicated to him.

Question:
What did Prime Minister Fukuda say in response to that?

Minister:
I do not know exactly what Prime Minister Fukuda said in response to this, but I am certain that he shares the same feelings as I do, that this is an unfortunate development.

Question:
So you did not explain this to him directly?

Minister:
No, I did not explain it to him directly. I believe that this was explained to the Prime Minister through the Secretary.

Question:
Do you think that North Korea would have launched its investigative committee if the Prime Minister had not expressed his intent to resign from office?

Minister:
Given that we are talking about North Korea, in response to a hypothetical question as to what would have happened in this case depending on that particular circumstance, then there really isn't anything that I can say decisively or anything that anybody could say decisively. What I can say is that we have been advancing matters on the presumption that North Korea would establish that committee and therefore the latest development is very unfortunate.

Question:
There is some information to the effect that recovery operations have been initiated at the nuclear facility in Yongbyon. I understand that in the exchange of views that has taken place with the countries concerned this is something that the Government of Japan is already aware of, but has there been a direct explanation provided to Japan by North Korea regarding this matter?

Minister:
It is not my view that any direct explanation was provided. It is undoubtedly true that North Korea is indicating a stance that it intends to launch recovery work on that facility but at what point one can state that recovery work has been launched is a matter that differs depending on the perspective that you take, and therefore I think the current situation is such that one cannot really say exactly whether or not North Korea has launched recovery operations on that facility.

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