Press Conference by the Press Secretary 7 June 1996

Visit to Japan by Minister for Foreign Affairs John Gosse Downer of Australia
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. As you are probably well aware, Minister for Foreign Affairs John Gosse Downer of Australia was in Tokyo for an Official Visit on 5 and 6 June. On 5 June, the two foreign ministers had a meeting, followed by dinner. I would like to give you some of the salient points discussed in the meeting and at the dinner. They discussed quite a few subjects -- international issues and bilateral matters. They discussed North Korea, and, on the subject, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda expressed his appreciation to Australia for the AU$2 million dollars in additional contributions that Australia decided to make to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO). In response, Foreign Minister Downer said that KEDO was something that Australia could not neglect, from the perspective of security in the Asia-Pacific. He further said that he himself was calling on ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and European countries to make further contributions to KEDO. They also discussed regional, Asia-Pacific security issues. Foreign Minister Downer highly praised the Japan-U.S. Joint Security Declaration issued at the time of the visit to Japan in April by President William Clinton of the United States of America. Foreign Minister Ikeda told Foreign Minister Downer that Japan appreciated the fact that Australia was the first country to issue a message welcoming the Declaration. He added that the Declaration did not change the mechanism of the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements, but made the Arrangements more effective. Foreign Minister Ikeda stressed the need to keep the United States engaged in the affairs of the Asia-Pacific. He stressed the importance of keeping the United States engaged in APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and the ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum), to be more specific. Foreign Minister Downer said that Australia shared this position, and that it was important for the United States to remain engaged in the Asia-Pacific from the perspective of maintaining peace in this part of the world. They also discussed ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting). Foreign Minister Ikeda said that in the meeting in Bangkok, Japan clearly stated its support for Australia's participation in the next meeting of the ASEM, scheduled to be held in London. He said that there was no particular response from the participants in the Bangkok Meeting, and that he was under the impression that the question of new participants will be discussed in the London Meeting. Foreign Minister Downer thanked Foreign Minister Ikeda for Japan's support, and said that Australia wished to participate in the London Meeting. They also discussed United Nations-related issues -- APEC, the WTO (World Trade Organization). They discussed the archipelagic sea lanes of the Republic of Indonesia, and they discussed bilateral matters, as well. In the context of bilateral issues, regarding the Joint Declaration on the Japan-Australia partnership issued at the time of last year's visit to Japan by Prime Minister Paul Keating of Australia, Foreign Minister Downer expressed that, as a way of translating this Declaration into practice, Australia wished to cooperate with Japan in the area of security. Foreign Minister Ikeda, in response, said that it was our job to put into practice the Joint Declaration, and that the two countries should participate, not only in economic areas, but in security areas as well.

That is the announcement that I wanted to make, and I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.
United Nations appeal for emergency humanitarian assistance for North Korea
Q: This morning, Foreign Minister Ikeda, appearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Lower House of the Diet, said that even though the North Korean military might have a stock of rice, it is not a good idea to wait for them to release that material -- to wait for that time and wait for the North Korean people to suffer. Does this statement mean that Japan will go on with the food aid called for by the United Nations, without any transparency measures by the North Koreans on the distribution of the rice?

A: I think you are referring to the appeal issued by the United Nations early this morning, Tokyo Time?

Q: Yes.

A: In view of the fact that an appeal for emergency humanitarian assistance for North Korea has been issued by the United Nations, Japan is now considering, from an emergency humanitarian perspective, how we might cooperate with this initiative. We will be considering a response to this appeal, maintaining close contact with the Republic of Korea and the United States of America. That is our position regarding the appeal.

Q: Further to that, with that kind of situation and the co-hosting of the World Cup, will there be any other high-level talks between South Korea, Japan and the United States within this month, as was held on Cheju Island in Hawaii a month before?

A: I think the next round is scheduled to take place this time somewhere in Japan. I am not aware of the exact timing of these talks.
The policy of Japan regarding Comfort Women
Q: Recently, some of the conservative politicians have raised the issue of the so-called Comfort Women. They have called this a commercial act and said that they could not admit that there was the Japanese military government's involvement in this. Concerning this, there are a lot of problems being caused. The Foreign Ministry of China has released a statement condemning this. The New Korea Party of Korea has also released a comment on this. Is there any response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter?

A: We do not know exactly what was stated by these politicians. We do not know anything beyond what has been reported in the media. But, the position of the Government of Japan on the issue of Comfort Women is very, very clear. As you may recall, a number of years ago, the Government of Japan conducted an extensive study relating to Comfort Women. The result of the Government study was announced in 1993 by the Chief Cabinet Secretary. Let me quote from the statement of the Chief Cabinet Secretary made at that time. He said, "The recruitment of the Comfort Women was conducted mainly by private recruiters who acted in response to the request of the military. The Government study has revealed that in many cases, they were recruited against their own will, through coaxing, coercion, etc., and at times, administrative and/or military personnel directly took part in the recruitment." That is the Government's perception of this issue. In the same statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary, the Government expressed its apology and deep remorse over the suffering that Japan caused the former Comfort Women. This apology and expression of deep remorse has been reiterated at the highest levels of Government, including by the Prime Minister. We intend to continue to address this issue sincerely by cooperating in every way possible with the Asian Women's Fund, so that their project will be implemented as soon as possible. That is the position of the Government of Japan.
Possible contribution by Japan to United Nations emergency humanitarian assistance for North Korea
Q: Regarding the North Korean food crisis, some of the newspapers this morning have given figures of a US$1 million contribution from Japan. Have you reached that stage yet?

A: No, we have not reached that stage. We have just initiated consideration of this matter. Nothing specific has been decided with regard to the contents of the assistance.

Q: Do you have any idea when the Government will finally decide what it will do?

A: No. We are studying this matter, and will reach a conclusion in due course. That is all I can say at this moment.

Q: Why does Japan want to send rice to North Korea? Why bother?

A: We never said that we were sending rice in response to this appeal from the United Nations. As I said, the contents of the Japanese assistance has not been decided yet. We are still considering a response to the United Nations appeal.

Q: Then the question should be, does Japan intend to help?

A: We are studying this matter from a humanitarian perspective. We have not reached any conclusion yet. We are studying this matter.

Q: So, it is primarily a humanitarian consideration that the Japanese Government is considering as it evaluates this request -- not trying to open up ties with North Korea, or business contacts with North Korea, or just contacts with North Korea -- as purely a humanitarian concern on the part of the Japanese Government?

A: For some time in North Korea, there has been a very serious food situation which has been deteriorating in recent months. That is one of the reasons that we are considering this appeal -- from a humanitarian perspective. That is why the United Nations sent a team to look at the situation in North Korea in the first place.

Q: Since the weekend is coming, do you anticipate having anything for us later today? Later this evening, perhaps, would it be worthwhile checking back?

A: I do not want to speculate.
Japan-Republic of Korea relations
Q: The Japanese Diet passed the Maritime Law today, and the next step, according this law, would be the drawing of the lines between Japan and Korea. How does the Government of Japan intend to do this, and where does it draw the line on this?

A: I think the two governments agreed to hold consultations on this question of the demarkation of the economic zones under the new Law of the Sea Treaty regime. I think discussions are being held with regard to when to hold these consultations.

Q: There are many issues now between Japan and Korea -- even more, I guess, with this Maritime Law, the U.N. appeal, and also the World Cup Case. Are there any plans on behalf of the Foreign Minister or the Prime Minister of Japan to visit Korea in the near future?

A: There is a standing invitation from the Republic of Korea for Foreign Minister Ikeda to visit the Republic of Korea. But, there has been no new invitation from the Republic of Korea side after the World Cup decision. At this stage, we are not considering any specific plans for the Foreign Minister to visit the Republic of Korea. Of course, those of us at the working level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like for Foreign Minister Ikeda to visit the Republic of Korea as soon as possible. However, when we consider the overseas travel plans of the Foreign Minister, we have to take a number of factors into account. In the case of the Republic of Korea, perhaps the decision by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for Japan and the Republic of Korea to co-host the World Cup is a factor to be considered. But, there are other factors that we have to take into consideration. So, at this stage, we are not studying in specific, concrete terms, a visit of the Foreign Minister to the Republic of Korea.

Q: Is the case the same for the Prime Minister?

A: There is also a standing invitation for Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to visit the Republic of Korea. But, in this case also, we have to take a number of factors into account. So, no plans have been decided yet.
The reported death of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot
Q: Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have any comments on the reported death of Cambodia's Pol Pot?

A: We are aware of reports about the death of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot. There had been reports for some time that he was ill. We are now collecting information through our embassy in Phnom Penh regarding this report to see if it is true. We are told that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia has unofficial reports of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot's death. With regard to the current state of the Khmer Rouge, in 1994, as you know, it was declared legal. Since then, the number of men in the Khmer Rouge forces has dwindled to around 2,000 to 4,000 from a peak of 30,000 to 40,000. We are told that they also have problems, such as an aging leadership and a large number of desertions. We believe that the influence of the Khmer Rouge is dwindling. Since we have not officially confirmed Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot's death at this moment, we would not like to speculate on what impact that this might have on the Khmer Rouge. But, given the situation that I described to you, we believe that this will have very little impact on the general situation in Cambodia. Thank you very much.

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