Press Conference by Press Sec. 25 April 1995

1. 1995 Spring Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals
2. Visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono to the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Hungary
3. Visit by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Hakuo Yanagisawa to the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zimbabwe
4. Issues related to North Korea and the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)
5. Shipment of radioactive waste to Japan

1. 1995 Spring Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals

   Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. The Government of Japan has decided to confer decorations on 34 foreign nationals from 17 nations on 29 April. I am quite sure that you have the list of conferees, which is self-explanatory. I don't think I have to give a detailed account of the list.

2. Visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono to the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Hungary

   Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono will visit the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Hungary from 28 April to 2 May. During his stay in Croatia, Foreign Minister Kono will meet with President Franjo Tudjman, Prime Minister Valentic, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mato Granic of Croatia, and leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Former Yugoslavia Yasushi Akashi. During his subsequent stay in Hungary, Foreign Minister Kono will have talks with Prime Minister Horn and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kovacs of the Republic of Hungary. He will also have talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Crvenkovski of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and a leader of Yugoslavia.

   Q: I have three questions. First, could you provide us with the names of the leaders of Bosnia and leader of Yugoslavia you referred to?

   A: I am afraid to say I do not have detailed information on that, but I am quite happy to let my colleague check on the names which you would like to know.

   Q: Is there any change in Japan's stance concerning relations with Bosnia, seeing as, until now, the Government of Japan has not recognized the government in Sarajevo?

   A: Our position is that the current situation there doesn't permit us to make any drastic change in policy -- in other words, I understand that we have to maintain the status quo. But what is quite important, speaking of the Foreign Minister's visit, is that we have to urge all the parties concerned that the ceasefire agreement should be extended. The agreement is going to expire by the end of this month, as you know.

   Q: Just on the day when Foreign Minister Kono is there.

   A: That's right.

   Q: Until now, Japan kept embassies in Belgrade and Vienna for the former Yugoslavia. Is there any change in the future?

   A: Under the present circumstances, I do not see any change. We still can't afford to open so many embassies elsewhere, even though we recognize the necessity of doing so.

3. Visit by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Hakuo Yanagisawa to the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zimbabwe

   Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Hakuo Yanagisawa will visit the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zimbabwe from 26 April to 1 May, after attending, as head of the Japanese delegation, the 51st General Meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to be held in Bangkok. In South Africa, Vice-Minister Yanagisawa will be attending the "Freedom Day" Memorial Ceremony to be held in Pretoria on 27 April, which marks the first anniversary of the establishment of the Government of National Unity. During his stay in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, he will meet with Government leaders to exchange views on Japan's diplomatic policy toward Africa.

4. Issues related to North Korea and the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)

   Q: On North Korea -- first of all, the number being bandied about is US$4.5 billion as the total price tag for the light-water reactor project. Has Japan ever put a specific dollar figure or percentage figure on how much it is willing to contribute?

   A: I understand that we are not really quite sure of the exact amount which will be necessary for the construction of two light-water reactors in North Korea. If I am not mistaken, I noticed that those figures appeared when the Congressional hearings took place in Washington, D.C. I am given to understand that approximate figures were given by way of explanation by the State Department representative. But you must understand that, in order to determine the exact amount for the reactors in question, we have to send our team first. In order for us to do so, we must first determine the type of light-water reactors. As you know, the Berlin talks did not produce any tangible results. Therefore, the Government of the United States signalled to the North Korean side that the United States' side is quite willing to have a higher level talk, and they are waiting for the formal reply from Pyongyang.

   Q: Are you aware of any formal reply from North Korea to the United States at this point?

   A: I simply noticed that a dispatch coming from Washington, D.C. by one of the leading Japanese news agencies said that, "North Korea sent a letter to the United States on Monday concerning a high-level meeting in Geneva." We have not yet had definite information to confirm this. Anyhow, since this is a part of the communication between Pyongyang and Washington, D.C., even though we are in a position to know, I think we should not say anything about the contents of the communication. I think the question should be addressed to my counterpart in the State Department of the United States.

   Q: How about this question? What is the present status of normalization talks between Japan and North Korea, and what role does Japan expect to play in efforts to resolve the present impasse between North Korea and the United States, and South Korea?

   A: You are asking me two separate questions, I should say. Now, we did not deny the fact that we have been in touch with the North Korean side, but of course, because of the diplomatic delicacy, we should not say when and where we have been meeting. But, at the present stage, the timing and venue for normalization talks are yet to be determined. But at the same time, I should say that, although these normalization talks do not have direct relevance to the United States-North Korea technical talks, we are, however, very much mindful of what is happening. Now, the question of the talks between Pyongyang and Washington, D.C. -- you may know that an international consortium called the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) was already established in March, and KEDO was supposed to engage directly in these talks. But still, KEDO does not have its own office, and does not have staff other than an executive director and two deputy directors. So, KEDO, at the present stage, is not yet operational. Therefore, KEDO authorized the United States to engage in technical talks with the North Korean side. This is the very reason why there are technical talks in Berlin discussing the type of the reactor to be provided by KEDO to North Korea. Now, what is Japan doing? Whatever is decided by the United States side to negotiate with North Korea, the Governments of Japan and the Republic of Korea are behind the United States team. In other words, we coordinate among ourselves how to deal with this situation. The United States Government decision to have a high-level talk is another cooperative action by the three Governments concerned. In other words, we are cooperating very, very closely with the Governments of the Republic of Korea and the United States.

   Q: There is a rumor going around New York, that a Japanese company may be asked, or is at least being sounded out, to possibly be the overall contractor for the light-water reactor project. Is there any movement in that direction?

   A: I am not aware of that rumor. I have never heard of any Japanese company being involved. However, I noted a rumor which said that one foreign company, other than Japanese, might be involved. But we are not in a position to confirm this at this stage. We are supposed to be engaged in technical discussions for the purpose of determining the type of reactor. As you know, our position is that there is only one alternative, which is to make available the South Korean type of reactor.

5. Shipment of radioactive waste to Japan

   Q: Do you have any comment on the nuclear ship standoff this morning?

   A: I wouldn't say that this is something the Foreign Ministry is obliged to say anything on, but I recognize the situation in which the ship is forced to stand still because of the opposition on the part of the local governor. The local governor is asking the Japanese electric companies to assure him of the final disposal of the high-level radioactive waste. I understand these wastes are expected to be stored at local storage facilities for less then 50 years, and because of the long life of the radioactivity involved, now the governor is asking the Japanese operators to let him know the final disposal site. So, I don't see any particular foreign policy element in it.

   Q: The Foreign Ministry was advocating the ship's movement all along. Now, it seems even Japanese people are opposing this, I think.

   A: If you take it that way, I must admit that, yes, I certainly recognize an opposition movement being still there. But, I would never take it that almost all the Japanese people are against it, you see. After all, we are very much aware of the fact that about 25% of Japanese electricity does come from the nuclear power stations. We have to think about how to dispose of the nuclear wastes produced by the nuclear power generation. Every country is going to have the same problem.