Media FAQ

12 October, 2007
International Press Division

North Korean Issues

Note: On Tuesday, 9 October, 2007, Japan decided to extend the following two sanctions on North Korea for another 6 months.

Prohibition against North Korean vessels entering harbors in Japan
Prohibition against imports of all North Korean goods to Japan

Q: Japan has decided to extend its sanctions against North Korea. What are the reasons behind this decision?

A: The decision has been made based upon a comprehensive evaluation of the current circumstances surrounding North Korea, including nuclear development issues as well as the fact that no concrete progress has been seen on the abduction issue.

Q: Does the extension of the sanctions mean a change in Japan's policy towards North Korea?

A: Japan's position towards North Korea is unchanged in that, in accordance with the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, Japan seeks to normalize relations with North Korea, through the settling of the "unfortunate past" and the resolution of the outstanding issues of concern with North Korea, including nuclear, abduction and missile issues. Japan urges North Korea once again to take substantial steps towards the resolution of the outstanding issues.

Myanmar Issues

Q: Regarding the death of a Japanese journalist, Mr. Kenji Nagai, what is the current status on the investigation of the killing?

A: The result of the legal autopsy, which was conducted in Japan, shows that Mr. Nagai died of blood loss due to hepatic injury caused by a perforating bullet wound.

Japan continues to demand that the Government of Myanmar render a full account of how and why the Japanese journalist had to be killed and return the video camera and its contents to Japan and to the bereaved family.

So far, the Government of Myanmar has not responded to the aforementioned demands from Japan.

Q: What is Japan's position on the United Nations Security Council Presidential Statement on the situation in Myanmar?

A: Japan welcomes the statement issued on 11 October (New York time). Japan also hopes that the Government of Myanmar will respond to the UN Secretary-General's good offices efforts including the mission by Mr. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General, and move to a peaceful transition to democracy and improve the human rights situation in Myanmar.

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