(* 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, September 30, 2008, 11:00 a.m.
Place: Briefing Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

North Korean Issues
Establishment of the new Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Replenishment Activities in the Indian Ocean
International Financial Issues
Implementation Period for the Japan-China-ROK Summit

1. North Korean Issues

Question:
This morning, the foreign affairs division within the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan granted approval to extend the economic sanctions on North Korea by six months. As such, I understand that the Government will take up the policy of extending those sanctions. Can you confirm this and state the reason for that extension?

Minister:
Those sanctions will expire on October 13 and in order to extend them, a Cabinet Decision is required. There is still some time left until then, and so, whether or not those sanctions will be extended is something that must be considered in a comprehensive manner in light of the overall position taken by North Korea. Such consideration should include factors such as that North Korea has not agreed to the basic verification mechanism for the disablement of nuclear facilities, as well as that it has ceased disablement activities of the nuclear facilities at Yongbyong and begun to restore these facilities. Furthermore, Japan will also consider that it has not taken concrete action to restart the investigation that was agreed upon in August concerning the abductions issue. I do not know exactly what will happen between now and October 13 concerning these factors, therefore there is a need to carefully monitor the response taken by North Korea. However, under the current situation, I would say that if nothing changes as of the expiration on October 13, then there is probably no choice but to extend those sanctions.

Question:
You stated that under the current situation, there is no choice but to extend the economic sanctions. However, are you saying that there is a possibility that the sanctions will be lifted if North Korea establishes a committee to conduct a new investigation into the abductions?

Minister:
As you know very well, the measures that are taken toward North Korea can be partially or fully lifted based on an overall evaluation of the various situations prevailing in North Korea vis-à-vis the concrete actions it is taking to resolve various issues of concern, such as the abductions issue, and nuclear and missile issues. If North Korea establishes an authoritative investigation committee in accordance with the agreement that was reached at the Japan-North Korea Working-level Consultations that took place in August of this year and takes concrete action toward resolving the abductions issue – in other words, if it locates survivors and returns those survivors to Japan after initiating a comprehensive investigation of the situation regarding the abductees – then concurrent with the beginning of that investigation, Japan is of the position that it can lift the restriction on personnel exchanges as well as the restriction on chartered air travel between Japan and North Korea. There has been no change to our position in this regard.

Question:
US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill is expected to visit North Korea in the near term and if an agreement can be reached on a verification mechanism for nuclear facilities, he has once again stated that the US is prepared to remove North Korea from the list of nations sponsoring terrorism. What do you think is the outlook for the consultations between the US and North Korea? Furthermore, in the event that the US removes North Korea from the list of nations sponsoring terrorism, please tell us once again what response the Government of Japan intends to take?

Minister:
The agreement that was reached amongst the six parties has been frozen and Assistant Secretary of State Hill is visiting North Korea with a view to achieving a breakthrough in that situation. I understand that these efforts are being made with a view to advancing the Six-Party Talks process, centering on the issue of verification. Furthermore, the US Department of State has announced that Assistant Secretary of State Hill will be visiting Seoul, Pyongyang, Beijing and then Tokyo. As such, when I met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on September 26, we thoroughly discussed the response to be taken in the future as two Foreign Ministers and we agreed to cooperate together. In addition, we confirmed that we would continue to call on North Korea to resume its disablement activities and quickly agree to a concrete verification mechanism. As such, the Government of Japan expects that during this upcoming visit to North Korea, Assistant Secretary of State Hill will call on North Korea to take a forward-looking response based on the content of discussions between Japan and the US.

2. Establishment of the new Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Question:
Tomorrow the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be re-launched as the new JICA after merging with the Official Development Assistance division of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). This will allow for an integrated approach to Official Development Assistance (ODA). Therefore, could you please tell us once again the views of the Government of Japan regarding how you intend to develop ODA under the new JICA?

Minister:
While this will be a new organization, it will be composed of units that have historically carried our important respective roles. I call upon them to continue to thoroughly carry out these roles even once they have merged into this new structure.

3. Replenishment Activities in the Indian Ocean

Question:
A bill regarding the replenishment activities was presented at the extraordinary Diet session. How do you plan to deal with this and what are your views on future developments, given the situation of a contorted Diet?

Minister:
I believe that it is indeed a very difficult situation. However, terrorism issues are not just foreign affairs issues. Twenty-four Japanese nationals were killed on 9/11. Because of this, I believe that Japan shares an equal responsibility with other countries in the fight against terrorism. I would like to cooperate with the international community in order to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a hotbed of terrorism. Japan's replenishment activities were highly regarded by other countries at the United Nations General Assembly and there was hope for their continuance. I believe that this is the very least that Japan can do. As a result of the replenishment activities, we are also contributing to the safety of European and Middle-Eastern sea transport routes and 90% of the fuel (that Japan imports) passes through these areas. A major part of automobile transportation passes through this area as well. Oil is of course important, but ensuring maritime safety is extremely crucial to Japan's economy and trade. Japan's humanitarian reconstruction contribution is third after that of the US and the UK, both of which are bearing a great burden of the cost of the war. I consider reconstruction support and security measures to be a set of mutually complementary measures. Since the replenishment activities cannot be covered by the reconstruction support, it is my hope that the bill will pass so that Japan can continue its replenishment activities. A Japanese tanker was attacked in that region and under this situation, unless Japan continues its replenishment activities, we cannot simply ask for help. Therefore, I believe that Japan must do its utmost within certain limits.

4. International Financial Issues

Question:
The US House of Representatives has rejected the proposed market bailout plan and the Dow Jones Industrial Average marked a historic 777-point decline. What are your views on the present financial crisis originating from the US?

Minister:
This rejection by the House of Representatives of a bill that had consensus among the political parties of the US Congress is a considerable result. There is a lot of confusion in the financial markets right now. This was a swift bill initiated by the US Government in order to calm the current turmoil in the financial markets. It is my hope that this bill will be re-examined and passed at an early stage for the sake of US and international economic stability.

5. Implementation Period for the Japan-China-ROK Summit

Question:
At the Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Conference held in New York, it was agreed that a Japan-China-ROK Summit would take place within the year. Please share with us any adjustments that are being made regarding this summit.

Minister:
In this regard, I feel that all three countries see the necessity for a summit. Such meeting has not yet been realized according to each country's political situation; however we are presently making considerations in order to implement the summit within the year.

Question:
Will this occur before the votes are counted for the Lower House election?

Minister:
That has not yet been determined, but we would like it to be implemented at the earliest possible time.

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