Press Conference by the Press Secretary June 3, 1997

Subcommittee for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nobuaki Tanaka: The Subcommittee for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation will convene on 7 June in Honolulu. This body was established last June for the Review of the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation. At this forthcoming meeting, Japan will be led by Director-General Masaki Orita of the North American Affairs Bureau and Director-General Shunji Akiyama of the Defense Agency. The American side will be led by Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Franklin Kramer of the United States of America and joined by the people from the Department of State. They are supposed to agree on the interim report on the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation, which will be made public after the meeting.
Takeshima Island issue
Q: Yesterday, Japan and Korea held top-level talks in Ikura. Could you share with us what was discussed in these talks? Also, yesterday, Secretary General Kato of the Asian Affairs Bureau called upon Minister Kim of the Korean Embassy in Tokyo to protest the plan of the Korean Government to develop Tokdo Island. Could you also elaborate on that?

Spokesman Tanaka: At the thirteenth meeting of Japan-Republic of Korea senior officials, which was held 2 June, we reviewed the international situation and above all the situation on the Korean Peninsula. I understand that a briefing has been held on this already. Regarding your second question, on 30 May, the Ocean and Fishery Department of the Republic of Korea announced an ocean development plan called "Ocean and Fishery Vision for the 21st Century," which includes a plan for Takeshima Island. Regarding this plan, Director-General Ryozo Kato of the Asian Affairs Bureau called in Minister Kim Yong Kyoo of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea yesterday and stated our long-standing policy on the territorial issue of Takeshima Island. He expressed his regrets and protested to the Government of the Republic of Korea that such a plan was formulated, and he requested the suspension of quay facility building works and cancellation of all measures embodied in the plan on Takeshima Island. It is my understanding that the Republic of Korea side repeated the position of the Government of the Republic of Korea. Minister Kim promised us that he would convey the message to the home government.

Q: Could you tell me the position of the Government of Japan on Takeshima Island?

Spokesman Tanaka: Takeshima Island is an integral part of Japanese territory and this has been our long-standing position on Takeshima Island. There is no question about this.
Japanese wives in North Korea
Q: I have a second question regarding negotiations between Japan and North Korea to bring back Japanese wives who were sent to North Korea during the 1950s and 1960s. Could you update us on how it is going? There was a report in the Japanese press that Director Bessho will be flying to Beijing again on 3 June to meet with North Korean officials. Could you elaborate on that?

Spokesman Tanaka: It has been the Japanese policy not to comment on the concrete modality of how we have contacted the North Korean authorities on each occasion. On various occasions, nonetheless, it is true that the Japanese side has made it plain to the North Korean side that we have concerns about Japanese wives in North Korea, who number about 1,800. I am quite sure that the North Korean authority is fully aware of what our concerns are.
Accession of the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Q: There was a recent press report suggesting that the Government of Japan is not very eager to support the idea of the Russian Federation joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). Do you have a comment on this?

Spokesman Tanaka: For Japan, it is important that the Russian Federation join the World Trade Organization (WTO) and be able to play a useful and constructive role within the international economic framework. That would be a very important step for strengthening the multilateral trading system. It is in this vein that we have supported Russia's accession to the WTO at an early stage. In order for Russia to join the WTO, it must demonstrate to the world that it is able to abide by the international rules set by the WTO. In joining the WTO, Russia has to make sufficient improvements in market access to its own country. We have been supporting Russia by holding seminars, etc., thus providing technical skills and assistance in updating the Russian capacity to accede to the WTO. We greatly hope that Russia will be able to prepare itself so that it could join the WTO at an early stage.

Q: So, at the Denver Summit, are you going to support the accession of Russia to the WTO?

Spokesman Tanaka: Yes, we certainly will. Before there is actual accession to the WTO, however, we have to solve many issues including the issue of market access. Therefore, these actual negotiations have to precede Russian accession to the WTO.
Framework for the Denver Summit
Q: I have a question in regard to the term "G-8." As far as I can see, I do not seem to remember a single occasion when officials of the Government of Japan used this terminology. Do you currently use the term G-8, or is it still a bit early?

Spokesman Tanaka: Naturally, in the past, we used the term "G-7," because that has always been the term that has been used. It is only recently that the membership of the Russian Federation to the framework of the G-7 has been agreed upon. Therefore, we have not used the term "G-8." However, I do not believe that there is any hesitation on the part of Japan toward a G-8 meeting. On the other hand, in regard to certain economic and other issues, it has been made clear that we will continue to discuss these within the G-7 framework. Therefore, there are actually two separate tracks going on.

Q: With the Denver Summit taking place this month, what terminology will you be using officially for the upcoming Denver Summit?

Spokesman Tanaka: My notes say that this year's Summit is treated as the "Summit for eight countries," in other words, we may call it "G-8."
Elections in the French Republic
Q: In regard to the French elections, Prime Minister Hashimoto said that he hopes to maintain good relations between Japan and France. Also, during Foreign Minister Ikeda's last visit to Paris, he was invited for a bilateral meeting as soon as possible in Paris. Will this happen soon? Is there a fixed date for this meeting?

Spokesman Tanaka: As far as I am aware of, there is no plan for Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda to stop by Paris. However, Foreign Minister Ikeda plans to go to Europe in conjunction with his trip to the Denver Summit. He has extended one leg of his journey to Europe. However, there is no plan for him to stop in Paris. But, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our hope that this change of government in the French Republic would not change the basis that exists currently between Japan and France. We have been strengthening our bilateral relationship with President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic. Our relationship has broadened to encompass various global issues, and it is our hope that this broad-ranging bilateral relationship would remain unchanged, and that it should only be further strengthened. That is our policy.
Entrance of the North Korean ship Mankyongbong into Port of Yokohama
Q: Regarding the North Korean boat Mankyongbong, why is this boat in Yokohama and not in Niigata as usual?

Spokesman Tanaka: We can confirm that Mankyongbong came to the Port of Yokohama on 31 May. We do not know what the purpose of the visit is. Also, a question was posed in the last press conference on whether or not it would be appropriate for the captain of this ship to make a courtesy call to the mayor of Yokohama, etc., in spite of the fact that Japan and North Korea do not have formal relations. The only thing I can say on this is that we are not aware of any requests by the North Korean side to pay such a courtesy call to the heads of the metropolitan authorities, so I cannot comment on that.

Q: Was the Government of Japan told the reason why the Mankyongbong wanted to enter the Port of Yokohama?

Spokesman Tanaka: For any ship to visit a Japanese port, it must have a purpose, which must be clarified. However, I do not have information at my disposal on the purpose for which this ship has registered with the Port of Yokohama Authority.

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