(* 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 Koichiro Gemba
Date: Wednesday, December 12, 2012, 0:17 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Main topics:
- Launching of a “satellite” by North Korea
1. Launching of a “satellite” by North Korea
Saito, Kyodo News: With regard to future measures by the Security Council, will Japan call for a resolution to relevant countries or will Japan aim to further toughen the contents of the Presidential Statement? Please explain the policy.
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: To put simply, there is no telling what measures the Security Council will take, but there is the background that a Presidential Statement was issued in April. In the last paragraph of this Statement, it expresses its determination to take action accordingly in the event of a further DPRK launch or nuclear test. So I believe Japan will act and call for actions on that level, but whatever the case, we, including our New York base, will fully coordinate and discuss with the U.S., the Republic of Korea, China, Russia and other member states of the UN Security Council.
Shigekura, Asahi Shimbun: Will you elaborate on the measures including independent sanctions by Japan?
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: As I have also explained before, there are in general two ways of sanctions – those independently imposed by Japan and those implemented by the international community as a whole. Regarding the independent sanctions by Japan, we are deliberating in an unceasing manner. We will comprehensively determine based on further actions. It would be a comprehensive judgment. by saying “further actions,” I mean we must decide our next move based on what discussions will be conducted at the UN Security Council and what we will achieve. On the other hand, although we cannot speculate what sanctions will be implemented by the international community, we must consider them from the standpoint of effectiveness. I believe we must carefully consider from the viewpoint of imposing the most effective measures.
Chen, Reuters: What is your specific request to the UN Security Council? You mentioned earlier that you would hold discussions and that you would consider the best measures, but what is Japan hoping for?
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: It is simply what I mentioned just earlier. I hope you would read carefully what the Presidential Statement is stating. That is to say, the Presidential Statement expresses its determination to take action accordingly in the event of a further DPRK launch or nuclear test. I believe you can imagine what it means. In other words, the Security Council will begin discussions on the form and substance but I think you can pretty much assume what line of requests Japan will be making based on the explanation I gave earlier. Basically we will call for the international community to take resolute measures.
Chen, Reuters: What sorts of resolute measures will you take?
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: Again, as I mentioned earlier, I think you can pretty much imagine. Based on the substance of the Presidential Statement, you can easily assume in accordance to what line of requests Japan will make and that it would call for a measure a step further than the Presidential Statement. Having said that, what achievements will be reached is something we cannot predict beforehand.
Momoi, Nikkei Shimbun: You mentioned that you would pursue effective and effectual measures but its backdrop is that China has thus far consistently opposed to such measures due to the fact that it would affect the regime of North Korea. Although it is still unclear to what extent China will cooperate with Japan, if you have certain requests to China regarding their position at the coming UN Security Council, will you please deliver your message?
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: Since the Presidential Statement I mentioned earlier was announced at the Security Council which includes China, I hope to call on China to act in light of that. Although this is not in regard to a specific country but in general terms, not long ago there was a case where it was quite difficult for the international community to achieve effectiveness through sanctions. That leads me to believe that we must deliberate ways to achieve effectiveness.
Otani, NHK: It seems Director-General- and working-level communications are already taking place. So I would like to ask if political level, the Foreign Ministerial-level communications have been conducted already and if you are considering them.
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: We have already, from the point of calling for self-restraint, had coordinated with relevant countries. We collaborated with countries such as the U.S. and the Republic of Korea and prepared for various cases including that of the launch. We firstly called for self-restraint but naturally Mr. Shinsuke Sugiyama, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, has begun communications with his U.S. and ROK counterparts from our operation room, which I have been briefed on. We hope to coordinate and cooperate with the U.S., the ROK, China and Russia on various levels. Foreign Ministerial-level communication may take place with respective countries but it is still unclear in what form it will be done.
Saito, Kyodo News: According to reports by South Korean and also Japanese media outlets, it had been said that North Korea’s missile had been removed or there might be a possibility that it would be dismantled, and various other information was also reported. Obviously since information partly relates to intelligence you may not be able to elaborate but based on the information, had the Government of Japan have the perception that it would not be launched for some time or had it not? Further, upon that information, were there moves within the Government to in a way reduce the alart level?
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: I am aware that there were quite a number of reports or commentaries predicting that it would not be launched within a few days. But the fact that the Government of Japan expended all possible means and did not reduce the level of alertness was due to our judgment based on the information obtained through various intelligence sources.
Kurashige, Asahi Shimbun: In North Korea, the Korean Central News Agency has announced that it has successfully gone into orbit. I would like to ask if the Government of Japan has confirmed this or not?
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: I am aware of that announcement through reports and various fragments of information are provided, but I believe I should only speak when all facts have been confirmed. Based on the current situation, I do not believe the Government of Japan is, or at least I am, in a position to comment definitively whether it has gone into orbit.
Kurashige, Asahi Shimbun: Will you once again take this opportunity to assess the impact on the Japan-North Korea Consultations?
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: Although I cannot predict this either but I do strongly request North Korea firstly to take the path for a solution through dialogue. Actions like this violating the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration are impermissible and since this is a serious violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions. In that sense, I hope North Korea will comply with its promises and realize them through specific actions. Having said that, if asked if the past consultations between Japan and North Korea were in vain, I do not believe so. I believe it will be vital at some point in the future.
Kurashige, Asahi Shimbun: What is the outlook for the next Japan-North Korea Consultations?
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: I do not believe we are at the stage of commenting on that.
Kurashige, Asahi Shimbun: So is my understanding correct that you will not deny the possibility? Your policy is not to exclude the option?
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: On that point, I do not believe I can or should comment on the specifics at this point, immediately following the missile launch.
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