Press Conference by the Press Secretary May 30, 1997

Food aid to North Korea
Q: What is the Government's stance on food aid to North Korea?

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nobuaki Tanaka: Japan's position on food aid to North Korea is as follows. We will take into account various aspects concerning this issue based on the appeal of the United Nations and carefully consider this question. And, after all these, we will draw a conclusion. This position remains unchanged. It is true that Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said to Korean journalists yesterday that if the Government of the Republic of Korea makes a request to us to seriously render cooperation for the sake of their compatriots, there may be room to change the current stance. However, if this is brought forward, it will be between the two Governments. Therefore, it is only natural that we would give serious consideration to such a request. So, this is the full context of what Prime Minister Hashimoto said. In light of this statement by Prime Minister Hashimoto, our position on food aid to North Korea is just as I stated. It is our basic policy to conduct very close consultations with the Government of Korea and the United States of America on this issue. But, depending on each individual case, our approach to such questions may vary from time to time.

Q: Do you mean to say that if South Korea asks Japan to help the North Korean people, then Japan will give assistance to the North Korean people?

Spokesman Tanaka: No, we would then give serious consideration to such a request. This request would be one of many aspects that we have to take into account. Our basic policy on food aid to North Korea is that we will first take into account various aspects based on the appeal of the United Nations, and then arrive at a conclusion in the end. We have many issues concerning food aid to North Korea. The most outstanding issues are the questions of Japanese wives, the alleged abduction of certain individuals and the smuggling of stimulant drugs. These things are problematic, and are the aspects that we have to take into account.
Japan-South Korea Bilateral discussions
Q: Is the food aid issue going to be discussed at the 2 June Deputy Foreign Ministerial Talks between South Korea and Japan?

Spokesman Tanaka: This bilateral consultation at the senior official-level between the Republic of Korea and Japan has been a regular one. This is the thirteenth session. The purpose of this consultation is to review the international situation, which certainly includes the situation on the Korean Peninsula. I understand that the two leaders of these meetings, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Shunji Yanai and Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Song Young Shik of the Republic of Korea, will exchange views on the Korean Peninsula, which would include the situation in North Korea and Four-party Talks. In this context, they will discuss this food aid issue. However, the purpose of this meeting is to exchange views, not to make decisions.
Spratly Islands issue
Q: Does Japan have any concerns over the incursions by China into the Spratly Islands near the Philippines?

Spokesman Tanaka: We are closely observing this issue and we hope that the parties concerned would first of all talk. And, we would very much like to see the question settled in a peaceful manner. We are exchanging views on this issue in the wider multilateral framework, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). So, we hope that an environment for the peaceful settlement of this issue would continue and that the parties concerned would respect that process.

Q: What is at stake for Japan in the Spratly Islands? The Spratly Islands are a long way away. Why is Japan concerned?

Spokesman Tanaka: The Asia-Pacific region as a whole is a region that we are very much concerned with, because our peace and prosperity hinges on the peace and prosperity of this region. In particular, the situation in Southeast Asia is a big concern for us. It is only natural that with the economic and political expanse that Japan has, that we should be concerned with the situation throughout the region. We have to take into account that our sea lane runs through these islands, and that we are undertaking economic activities in that area. In addition, we have friendly relationships with all those countries. So, that is why we hope that the parties concerned would settle this issue in a peaceful manner.
North Korea issues
Q: What was the reaction of Pyongyang when a Japanese Foreign Ministry official raised three issues, particularly abduction and stimulants?

Spokesman Tanaka: Are you asking what our official reaction is to a Pyongyang broadcast?

Q: No, in regard to the contact in Beijing.

Spokesman Tanaka: We have a long-standing policy of not commenting in detail on our contacts with North Korea. We certainly acknowledge that we have regular contacts with them. We acknowledge that there was a contact on 21 May. However, I cannot divulge the details of these discussions.

Q: There is a North Korean vessel that usually sails between Niigata and North Korea. However, it is coming into your harbor next week. The captain of this vessel wants to pay a courtesy call to the Governor and Mayor of Yokohama. What is the established Japanese practice concerning this? For example, are Japanese local administrators allowed under Japanese foreign practices to pay a courtesy call on a country which Japan has no diplomatic relations with at all?

Spokesman Tanaka: I have no information on this issue. Perhaps in the briefing to the foreign press by Press Secretary Hiroshi Hashimoto of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs next week, he will be able to respond to your question.
Senkaku Islands issue
Q: We saw a very effective display by the Japanese Coast Guard of keeping Taiwanese and Hong Kong protestors away from the Senkaku Islands. The next time a group of Japanese nationalists attempts to land on that island, will the Japanese Coast Guard be just as vigilant in protecting the islands?

Spokesman Tanaka: I must remind you that the Senkaku Islands remain and will remain an integral part of Japanese territory. We have kept effective control of these islands. It is only in this context that we have to give thought to the scenario that you envisage. We have been in contact with those people who have actually landed on the island in the past, including member of the House of Representatives Shingo Nishimura, and we have repeatedly reminded them of the wish of the owner of this island. But in spite of all these warnings, they have landed, which is quite regretful. We believe that in the future, this kind of incident will not happen. If we come across any cases like this in the future, we would like to again remind them of our basic policy on this issue. However, I cannot speculate on the modality of the action that the Coast Guard might take at a future juncture; that would not be constructive at all.
Japanese wives in North Korea
Q: Have there been any developments on the issue of Japanese wives living in North Korea who want to return home?

Spokesman Tanaka: The number of cases of Japanese wives in North Korea is around 1,800. Prime Minister Hashimoto said yesterday to Korean journalists that the Japanese people cannot accept a situation in which only 10 or 20 of those Japanese women are allowed to visit their home country while the rest are forbidden to even write letters home. So, it is our understanding that this issue of the Japanese wives should be handled in light of these remarks by Prime Minister Hashimoto. But, I cannot tell you exactly what developments have been made regarding this issue.

Q: You said that around 1,800 wives are in North Korea. Who gave you that information?

Spokesman Tanaka: We have had a long history of these Japanese wives. However, we have a long track of records stemming back to just after World War II. The Japanese authorities concerned have these records.

Q: Can these wives correspond freely with their relatives in Japan?

Spokesman Tanaka: There has been some contact in the past. However, people may have died because of old age, etc. In other cases we have simply lost contact with these people. That is why it is our honest hope that these Japanese wives will be allowed to contact their remaining families in Japan. At the moment, it appears that correspondence between the remaining families is not allowed freely, although there may be sporadic cases where one or two letters have been received by their families in Japan.

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