Press Conference by the Press Secretary 14 June 1996

Japanese response to the United Nations appeal for emergency humanitarian aid to North Korea
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi : Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. The Government of Japan decided today to contribute US$6 million to United Nations organs in response to the consolidated United Nations appeal for emergency humanitarian assistance for North Korea issued on 6 June of this year. Of the US$6 million, US$5.25 million will go to the World Food Program (WFP). The remainder, US$750,000, will go to the medical activities of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The position of the Government of Japan on economic cooperation with North Korea is that a final agreement in the normalization talks with North Korea is a prerequisite for economic cooperation. However, with regard to the latest United Nations appeal, we will be making contributions from an emergency humanitarian perspective in order to play an appropriate role as a member of the international community. The contributions will be directed toward the activities that we deem highly urgent and important from a humanitarian standpoint. It is Japan's policy to work closely with the Republic of Korea and other friends, with respect to our policies toward North Korea. We have been in close touch with the Republic of Korea and the United States regarding this present question of humanitarian assistance. We are hopeful that the assistance by the three countries will have a positive influence on the atmosphere for creating peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

That is the announcement that I wanted to make, and I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.
Upcoming elections in the Russian Federation
Q: How do you rate the forthcoming presidential elections in the Russian Federation? In what way will they result in relations between our countries?

A: We are following with great interest the electoral campaign in the Russian Federation. The upcoming presidential election has a major bearing on the future course of our important neighbor, Russia. Therefore, we are following this election with great interest. We believe that the election is extremely important from the perspective of democratization in Russia. For obvious reasons, I will have to refrain from making any comments on the outcome of the election. However, we would just like to say that we have been positively supporting reform efforts in Russia in the political, economic and diplomatic areas from the perspective of world peace and stability. We are hopeful that there will be no retrogression in this reform policy after the election, and that current policies be continued.
The visit of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to the Republic of Korea
Q: Could you tell us what Prime Minister Hashimoto is planning to take up as topics at the meeting with President Kim Young Sam of the Republic of Korea? What in particular is on his mind? Is it mostly the recent soccer decision, or is it the World Cup decision? Or, is it the recent question of how to deal with the so-called comfort women issue? Where do you put the emphasis on this meeting?

A: As you know the announcement that Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto will be visiting the Republic of Korea was made only two days ago. We have just started preparing for the visit. We have just started working with the Government of the Republic of Korea. It is a little premature to discuss with you what specific issues will be raised in the meeting of the leaders. All I can say at this moment is that in the upcoming bilateral summit, we will be exchanging views on bilateral ties, the situation in Northeast Asia, and also the world situation. We are hopeful that through these talks we will be able to reaffirm the importance of friendly and cooperative ties between Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Food shortages in North Korea
Q: Have you had any direct reports from observers in North Korea about the actual situation there, as far as the famine is concerned, and people who have actually seen it?

A: It is very difficult to make a judgement on exactly what the situation is in North Korea. The situation lacks transparency. Factual information on North Korea is extremely hard to come by. But, based on what we know, there is a very serious food situation in North Korea. Reports of the United Nations Food Assistance Organization (FAO) and WFP issued last month indicate that the food situation in North Korea had deteriorated further than they had expected. Based on what we know, there is a serious shortage of grain in North Korea -- on the order of 1.5 to 2 million tons. It seems that the rations have been reduced considerably. So, our judgement is that the food situation in North Korea presently is very dire.

Q: At the same time, we have all these reports on how copious the supplies are in the military and so forth. Are those based on any actual observations? Are they fact?

A: We have heard reports about abundant stocks of grain -- of the stocks of the military. But, according to the FAO-WFP mission which went to North Korea to assess the situation, North Korea has been forced to dip into their stocks to maintain their rationing system, and they have not been able to replenish these stocks, and these stocks continue to fall. There are reports that the military in North Korea is being given special treatment -- that they have been given more generous rations. But, there are also reports that rations for the military have also been reduced, and that some men in the military are suffering from undernourishment.

Q: Have you been able to confirm reports that some of the earlier rice supplied by Japan and South Korea has actually ended up with the military?

A: I have not heard any reports to that effect. When we provided the rice assistance to North Korea, they made a commitment that the rice would be used for civilian purposes only.

Q: And you think they have kept their commitment?

A: There is nothing to indicate that they have not.

Q: Can the rice that was sent to North Korea be identified as Japanese rice?

A: I do not know what is written on the bags. I will check and get back to you.

Q: We hear so much about the South Korean rice having a label.

A: It was not Japanese rice that was sent to North Korea. It was rice from the Kingdom of Thailand and the People's Republic of China. It came from our surplus of imported rice.

Q: But it was sent from Japan?

A: It was sent from Japan, yes. It came from our stocks of imported rice. Thank you very much.

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