Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > March 30, 2012

(* 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: Friday, March 30, 2012, 8:45 a.m.
Place: In the Diet

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting
    • (2) Visit to Japan by Rt. Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
  2. Domestic Political Situation (Omitted)
  3. Situation in North Korea (“Satellite” Launch)

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: Regarding Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the meeting is to be held in Ningbo, China on Sunday April 8, and I would like to attend it if it is approved by the Diet.
Dr. Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China will chair the meeting,  and from the Republic of Korea (ROK), Mr. Kim Sung-hwan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will attend it.
The Foreign Ministers from three countries will make necessary coordination for the Fifth Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting to be held in China this year, and exchange opinions on regional and international affairs.
I hope that this meeting will further enhance future-oriented partnership among Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea.

(2) Visit to Japan by Rt. Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Minister Gemba: Rt. Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom will pay an official working visit to Japan from Tuesday, April 10 to Wednesday, April 11.
I would like to welcome this first visit in the bilateral context in nine years of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Cameron is scheduled to meet with Prime Minster Noda during his stay. I hope that it will further deepen the friendly relationship between the two countries.

2. Domestic Political Situation (Omitted)

- (Omitted)

3. Situation in North Korea (“Satellite” Launch)

Noguchi, Nippon Television: Regarding Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting, what do you think the role of the meeting in order to urge North Korea to exercise self-restraint in launching a rocket?
Minister Gemba: Obviously, it will be the opportunity for Japan, China and the Republic of Korea to share the view. I think that the meeting will be relatively long and that we should discuss issues including how we work on North Korea since these three countries have concurred on urging self-restraint.
Yokota, Mainichi Newspapers: Action Order for Self-Defense Force concerning the Implementation Measures toward Ballistic Missiles was issued. Though we still have a few more days left, please tell us the latest situation of diplomatic efforts of Japan.
Minister Gemba: As I just mentioned, Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting will be held and we will continue to strongly urge North Korea to exercise self-restraint in cooperation with the U.S. and Russia. However, I would like to consider various scenarios including the case of actual launch.

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