Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > August 11, 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: Saturday, August 11, 2012, 9:10 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) Japan’s Response to the Visit by the President of the Republic of Korea to Takeshima
  2. Japan’s Response to the Visit by the President of the Republic of Korea to Takeshima

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Japan’s Response to the Visit by the President of the Republic of Korea to Takeshima

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: I have received a report about the background, purpose, and effects and other issues concerning the visit by President Lee Myung-bak to Takeshima from Mr. Muto, Ambassador to Korea, who returned to Japan late last night. Concerning our response to President Lee’s visit to Takeshima, it is necessary to take resolute measures concerning the territorial issue.
First of all, I would like to consider peaceful resolution of the issue based on the international laws including filing a suit to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and measures for that purpose, as well as drastic reform in the government system concerning the territorial issues.

2. Japan’s Response to the Visit by the President of the Republic of Korea to Takeshima

Yamaguchi, TV Tokyo: Concerning the lawsuit to the ICJ, when do you plan to file the lawsuit?

Minister Gemba: In terms of the content and timing of the lawsuit, we will discuss and determine details from now. I think it won’t take that long a period of time.

Yamaguchi, TV Tokyo: Did you consider any additional protest measures other than filing a lawsuit to the ICJ in the discussion today?

Minister Gemba: Various measures are conceivable, but first of all, as I have mentioned, I would like to begin with consideration of peaceful solution of the issue by utilization of the ICJ, and the reform of the domestic system.

Yamaguchi, TV Tokyo: You made Ambassador Muto come back to Japan, which is virtually a recall. Did you talk about the schedule to send him back to the ROK?

Minister Gemba: It has not been decided yet.

Oikawa, NHK: Concerning the lawsuit to the ICJ, the issue of Takeshima has been a problem to be solved between Japan and the ROK. What is the biggest motivation for you to determine filing a lawsuit to the ICJ this time?

Minister Gemba: Although, needless to say, Takeshima is an inherent territory of Japan, the ROK side has taken a stance that there is no territorial issue. In such a situation, I think it would be necessary to make the international society realize and understand Japan’s position by clearly declaring it at the ICJ.

Oikawa, NHK: However, there has been an opinion that such a lawsuit is risky and not such an easy choice because there is a possibility that Japan’s claim that the island is an inherent territory of Japan might not be accepted at the ICJ. What is your recognition and view on such an opinion?

Minister Gemba: Actually, the ROK side did not respond to the lawsuit twice before. We believe that our assertion is sufficiently reasonable. However, we have not filed the third lawsuit. That is not only because the ROK side has not responded to the lawsuit but the Government of Japan as a whole gave certain consideration to the influence of such a lawsuit upon overall Japan-ROK relations. I think the visit to the island by the President of the ROK made such consideration unnecessary, and therefore we need to make the international society sufficiently understand Japan’s position. For that purpose, we will consider such a lawsuit.

Higashioka, Asahi Shimbun: Asahi Shimbun: Concerning the lawsuit to the ICJ, there is a possibility that the ROK side would not respond to the lawsuit again. What do you think about that?

Minister Gemba: I have given sufficient consideration to such a possibility. However, as I have mentioned, we have not filed the lawsuit not because of such a possibility but because we gave certain consideration to the bilateral relations. The visit made such consideration unnecessary. Moreover, as the ROK claims itself to be a “Global Korea”, I think it would be their duty to respond to our lawsuit to the ICJ even if it used to be difficult for them to do so before. They should respond to the lawsuit naturally. As a result, the territorial issue will be known to the international society as a matter of course.

Higashioka, Asahi Shimbun: Regarding the reform of the system, there has been an opinion that the government should establish a specialized organization. Are you thinking of creating a new organization in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

Minister Gemba: I talked with the Prime Minister and the Chief Cabinet Secretary on that matter earlier. Since it is necessary to conduct a reform of the system involving the whole government, from now on, we would like to have thorough discussions with the Prime Minister, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, and relevant authorities to have a concrete picture of the way the new system should be.

Higashioka, Asahi Shimbun: Is what is on your mind Takeshima only?

Minister Gemba: No, all territorial issues, basically.

Nishida, Mainichi Shimbun: As for the shuttle diplomacy by leaders, will there be any restrictions or postponements of such exchanges of high-ranking officials?

Minister Gemba: My basic idea is that we respond to territorial issues by addressing territorial issues. However, as I mentioned earlier, various measures are conceivable as appropriate measures, of course. Therefore, at first, we will look into peaceful resolution of the dispute at the arena of international justice including the ICJ, and also the reform of the domestic system, so to speak, concerning territorial issues.

Sugimoto, Sankei Shimbun: You mentioned that it has not been decided when Ambassador will go back to Seoul. I understand there will be a big personnel change in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in September. Will you consider an option not to make Ambassador go back to Seoul until then?

Minister Gemba: It has not been decided yet, really. We would like to give it due consideration while taking into account various responses from the ROK side.

Obe, Dow Jones: When you talk about the reform of the system vis-à-vis territorial issues, is that intended to properly grasp information about a leader of a government visiting the territory in advance, or to take various measures in advance to prevent such a visit in the first place? What kind of system do you think you need to establish?

Minister Gemba: All of them, basically.

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