Press Conference by the Press Secretary 25 June 1996

Opening Remark
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi: I do not have any announcements this afternoon. I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.
Visit to Japan by a North Korean Disarmament and Peace Institute delegation
Q: I have a question in regard to the North Korean delegation of the Armistice and Peace Institute of North Korea which arrived in Tokyo yesterday evening. Included in that delegation is the leader of the Japan section of their Foreign Ministry. There is a lot of speculation that he will meet with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. I would like to know whether that is true or not? Also, yesterday, Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Taku Yamasaki, after meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ikeda last night, said that a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official will meet with this North Korean delegation. Could you comment on this please?

A: A group representing the North Korean Disarmament and Peace Institute arrived in Tokyo yesterday. They will be here for about one week. They are here at the invitation of the Japan Institute of International Affairs. In general terms, we think it is a good thing for academic organizations of Japan and North Korea to meet like this and deepen mutual understanding. As for the question about our plans to meet with members of this delegation, nothing has been decided yet.
Japan and North Korea
Q: Yesterday, Foreign Minister Ikeda met with leaders of the coalition parties. At this meeting Mr. Ikeda has been reported to have said normalization talks will be carried out by the Government. Could you tell me about that?

A: Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda is a very busy person, and he meets a lot of people. We, at the working level, are not in a position to comment on everything discussed in the meetings held by Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikeda. Having said that, I would like to add that it is the policy of this Government to conduct normalization talks with North Korea through Government channels. I think we have the understanding of the political parties on this.
Issues to be discussed at the upcoming G-7 Summit in Lyon
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the upcoming G-7 Summit, and what Japan hopes to achieve at the Summit, and what issues will be discussed?

A: In the upcoming G-7 Summit in Lyon, a large number of subjects will be discussed by the seven leaders. President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic has suggested that the main theme of the upcoming Summit should be globalization. Japan fully agrees with this. We believe globalization involves challenges, but also provides opportunities for the world. Another issue that Japan attaches importance to is the issue of development within developing countries. At the Summit, we would like to emphasize the need for developing countries and developed countries to work together, in what we call a new global partnership, in order to set specific goals such as the reduction of poverty, reduction of infant mortality, and the universalization of primary education. Developing countries and developed countries should work together to attain these goals. That is one thing to which we attach importance. We also attach importance to the question of accumulated debts, particularly those of low-income countries. On the political side we expect the Russian Federation, the Middle East, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to be the key issues that will be discussed. We also believe that issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, the People's Republic of China, the Asia-Pacific situation, disarmament and non-proliferation are important. With regard to China, we believe that for the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region it is necessary for the international community to support the reform and open-door policies of China, and engage China as an active partner in the international community. We will probably be underscoring that point. That is a brief summary of what we intend to discuss at the Summit.

Q: Do you expect that there will be pressure by other countries on Japan to stimulate domestic demand? Can you talk a little bit more about the economic issues of Japan?

A: On the economic side, we will be discussing policy coordination among the G-7 countries which will include macroeconomic policies, the issue of employment, and the need to stabilize the financial system. I hesitate to speculate on the specific discussions that will take place in Lyon.
People's Republic of China and the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Q: Is Japan going to take the initiative on presenting China's case regarding membership in the WTO?

A: At the G-7 Summit, we will be discussing the need to strengthen the free and open multilateral trading system. In that context it is likely that that issue of accession of non-members will be discussed. Our position on China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is clear. We have announced it in statements in the past. Our position is that we support the early accession of China to the WTO, but that China needs to meet the requirements of the WTO in order to do that. It is our hope that that will be done very soon.
Outcome of talks at the meeting on Cheju Island between Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Kim Young Sam of the Republic of Korea
Q: Regarding Prime Minister Hashimoto's visit to the Republic of Korea last weekend, what follows from these informal discussions? Is there an agenda that has to be put into place? If so, what are the major issues to be dealt with as a result of the discussions?

A: First of all, let me give you our overall impressions of the meeting on Cheju Island. Our position is best summed up in the statement made by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto in his joint press conference with President Kim Young Sam, the press conference that was held immediately after the meetings. Prime Minister Hashimoto said he was pleased that he was able to hold a frank and broad exchange of views with President Kim in a relaxed atmosphere. We are told that Prime Minister Hashimoto established a very good personal rapport with President Kim. He invited President Kim to visit Japan so that they could hold discussions in the same type of relaxed atmosphere. We think this is a very important outcome of the visit. Prime Minister Hashimoto also said that he was truly encouraged that there was agreement with President Kim that the two countries should further strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation and take advantage of the decision for the two countries to co-host the World Cup. The two leaders also reaffirmed the importance of close cooperation by Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States for peace and stability in Northeast Asia. This was also another very important outcome of the talks. There are a lot of things the two Governments will be working on. We will be negotiating on the demarcation of the exclusive economic zones of the two countries. In Cheju, the two leaders reaffirmed the agreement reached in Bangkok, and to move the talks forward on the basis of this understanding; the same can be said for the fishery talks. They also discussed the importance of youth exchanges. This is a very future-oriented project. The two leaders agreed to intensify exchange in this area. The two Governments will be holding working-level discussions on that. Regarding the issue of joint historical studies, I think you have heard about the agreement by the two leaders to set up a meeting of intellectuals from the two countries to monitor the current situation regarding historical studies in these two countries, and to encourage these studies. The two sides are hopeful that this meeting will be held soon.
Japan and Republic of Korea visa requirements
Q: Was there any talk on visas, about how to equalize the visa requirements of the two countries?

A: That was not talked about in the meeting of the two leaders. However, in the meeting of foreign ministers, the Korean side requested -- on the question of visas -- improvements on a number of points. The two sides agreed that this should be discussed at the meeting of the Directors-General of Consular Affairs of the two Governments, which is scheduled to be held in July.

Q: Was there any suggestion, because of the co-hosting, that the Bilateral Aviation Treaty may have to be re-negotiated to allow for more capacity between the two countries?

A: That was not discussed in any of the meetings. I am unaware that that is even an issue between the two Governments.
Details of a possible follow-up meeting between Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Kim Young Sam of the Republic of Korea
Q: When do you expect the return meeting between the two leaders?

A: That will be discussed by the two Governments. At the Cheju meeting no time frame was mentioned. They did very informally discuss the venue. Prime Minister Hashimoto asked President Kim what his preference was in regard to the venue. President Kim told Prime Minister Hashimoto that he had been told that Prime Minister Hashimoto's hobbies were mountain climbing and taking photos of mountains. President Kim told Prime Minister Hashimoto that those were also his own hobbies. That may be an indication of where the meeting might take place. If I mentioned the names of any places, that would be pure speculation.

Q: Is there a feeling that the meeting will be this year or next year?

A: I do not know, because no specific time frame was discussed between the two leaders. In the press conference, Prime Minister Hashimoto said that he would like to meet with President Kim at any time in a relaxed atmosphere like this. Thank you very much.

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