Press Conference by the Press Secretary 26 October, 1999

1. Results of the Japan-Republic of Korea Ministerial Meeting
2. Release of the Japanese mining engineers taken hostage in the Republic of Kyrgyz
3. Japan's position on the establishment of the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET)
4. Issues concerning the release of the Japanese hostages in Kyrgyz
5. Current position of Japan in regard to North Korea following the Japan-Republic of Korea Ministerial Meeting
6. Legal aspects of the Constitution of Japan in terms of nuclear weapons
7. Visit to Japan of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of the Kingdom of Thailand
8. Regarding the possible visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to the Republic of Korea

1. Results of the Japan-Republic of Korea Ministerial Meeting

   Press Secretary Sadaaki Numata: Good afternoon. I will give you first a readout of the events of the weekend and also yesterday. Firstly, the Japan-Republic of Korea Ministerial Meeting which took place in the marvelous surroundings of Cheju Island to the south of the Republic of Korea. The first Japan-Republic of Korea Ministerial Meeting of this kind took place in November last year, as you will recall, in Kagoshima. This was the second meeting with the participation of quite a number of Ministers from both sides and also the two Prime Ministers. The Prime Ministers and the Ministers of both Governments spent quite a few hours there over the weekend, which was very conducive to establishing a strong sense of rapport between the Prime Ministers and Ministers of the two Governments, especially given the fact that most of the Ministers participating from the Japanese side -- with the exception of Director-General Taiichi Sakaiya of the Economic Planning Agency - were participating in this sort of meeting for the first time.

   The two sides noted with pleasure that the process of building the future-oriented partnership between Japan and the Republic of Korea has already yielded some concrete progress since the issuing of the Japan-Republic Joint Declaration on the occasion of President Kim Dae Jung of the Republic of Korea's visit to Japan one year ago. They discussed ways and means of further solidifying this partnership. With respect to the policies toward North Korea, they affirmed that the comprehensive and integrated approach formulated jointly by Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States of America has been placed on track, and they engaged in very useful discussions from the viewpoint of advancing this process further through close collaboration between the three Governments concerned. They also exchanged views on some broader-based security dialogue in Northeast Asia as something to be tackled in the future.

   They also discussed a number of economic matters, both bilateral and multilateral. On the bilateral front, they agreed on the need to conclude the investment treaty between Japan and the Republic of Korea at an early date, and the need to promote cooperation in the area of standards and certification. They exchanged views on the economic situations in the two countries. They also discussed financial issues, as well as trade, investment, industrial cooperation, agriculture, fisheries, transport and so forth. With respect to multilateral cooperation, they agreed on the need to continue to cooperate closely together in such fora as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). They also discussed the forthcoming G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit.

   In the general areas of cultural and people-people exchanges, they agreed that the year 2002, in which the two countries will be co-hosting the World Cup soccer tournament, should be designated as the year of people-people exchange between Japan and the Republic of Korea. They agreed that a number of exchanges should be promoted within that general framework to bring about a successful outcome of the World Cup, as well as to promote exchanges in such fields as culture, sports, youth exchange, exchanges between local governments and the residents of local communities in the two countries, academic exchanges, exchanges in the business world, tourism and so forth. The next Ministerial Meeting is to take place in Japan sometime next year. The precise timing and venue are to be coordinated between the two Governments.

   Related Information (Japan-Republic of Korea Relations)
   
2. Release of the Japanese mining engineers taken hostage in the Republic of Kyrgyz

   Mr. Numata: My second comment refers to the safe release of the Japanese mining engineers abducted in the Republic of Kyrgyz. They were safely released Tokyo time yesterday at 16:15 and were protected in safety in Karamyk, Kyrgyz. They have since been taken to Bishkek and left for Japan on a chartered plane at 13:06 this afternoon. They are expected to arrive at Narita Airport around 20:00. In view of the terrible plight that these four gentlemen have suffered, as well as the anguish experienced by their families, we are indeed delighted with the fact that they have come out in safety. Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi phoned President Askar Akaevich Akayev of the Republic of Kyrgyz, who I believe was visiting the Russian Federation, last night to express our heartfelt gratitude to President Akayev and to those concerned in Kyrgyz and other countries for their strenuous endeavors. We are determined to take a resolute and unyielding attitude toward terrorism in all its forms, and to take every possible measure to prevent a simliar incident from recurring. We do find it truly regrettable that such an incident has taken place. We would like to learn the lessons from this case and to make further efforts to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals, including those engaged in assistance activities in Central Asia and other parts of the world.

   Related Information (Japan-Kyrgyz Republic Relations)
   
3. Japan's position on the establishment of the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET)

   Mr. Numata: My third comment is with respect to East Timor. As you know, the new Indonesian Parliament (MPR) approved the separation of East Timor on the basis of the popular consultation or direct ballot which took place last summer, on 20 October. Yesterday, on 25 October New York time, the United Nations Security Council adopted a Resolution to establish the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET), which is going to be tasked with the interim administration of East Timor in the transitional period leading to the independence of East Timor. Japan welcomes this adoption of the Security Council Resolution. With this decision to establish UNTAET, East Timor is entering an important stage of its nation-building, and we consider it important that the United Nations and the international community in general extend a helping hand to the people of East Timor as they engage in their own nation-building efforts on the basis of their own vision for the future. As efforts are being made to start the work of UNTAET, and the efforts are being made by the people of East Timor to build their own nation, it is our intention to extend as much positive contribution as possible.

   Related Information (Timor-Leste Situation (Archives))
   
4. Issues concerning the release of the Japanese hostages in Kyrgyz

   Q: Do you think Japan being a donor country to the region had something to do with the incident?

   Mr. Numata: It is very difficult to speculate on the motives of those people who perpetuated the act of taking these people hostage. I said earlier that it is our intention to learn the lessons from this case and to make further efforts to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals, including those engaged in assistance activities in Central Asia and other parts of the world, which is one way of saying that the fact that this incident took place should not deter us from engaging in these very worthwhile activities of helping the development of those nations. Of course, in the process leading up to the release of the hostages, we put our trust in the Government of Kyrgyz and we have kept in very close touch with the Government of Kyrgyz and other Governments concerned, and we are happy that these efforts have borne fruit. We will be going through a process of stocktaking on the basis of this experience -- there may be lessons to be learned -- but it may be a bit too early in the game after the release of the hostage to come to any definite conclusions.

   Q: On the same issue, I noticed that you described the kidnapping as an act of terrorism. Before they were released I do not recall any Japanese official describing it as "terrorism." Do you have any comment on this?

   Mr. Numata: Well, people do not abduct people normally, so it is in that sense that I use that particular word. If such incidents take place in other parts of the world, that would have very disturbing implications. That is why we have said in our statement that we continue to take a resolute and unyielding attitude toward terrorism in all its forms.

   Q: So you consider the kidnapping as an act of terrorism?

   Mr. Numata: I do not think there is any denying of that.

   Q: I notice that you provided very precise information about the time they left, but we do not have any precise information about how they were released. There were some reports that Japan paid some ransom?

   Mr. Numata: Firstly about the ransom, that is not true at all. That is very clear. Secondly, how they have come to be released -- the details of the operations involved, which were undertaken by the Government of Kyrgyz -- is something that we do not wish to comment on for several reasons. One is that the Government of Kyrgyz has engaged in very strenuous efforts to bring about the release of the hostages, and it is not for us to delve into the details of that. Second, how these people have come to be released and what sort of operations have been involved in that have implications for similar future incidents. We of course hope that there will be no similar future incidents of this kind, but to divulge the details of the operation leading to the release of the hostages this time could have undesirable consequences in the handling of similar cases in the future. For those reasons we do not choose to comment.

   Q: Do you expect similar cases in the same area?

   Mr. Numata: I did say that we do hope that similar cases will not happen, but one of course has to be vigilant.

   Q: So Japan's policy in this part of the world is not affected in terms of security or aid?

   Mr. Numata: Our general policy of continuing to help the development of those countries in Central Asia will not be affected in the sense that it continues to be our intention to help the nation-building efforts of those Central Asian countries which gained their independence not too long ago and are still in the process of nation-building. We would like to continue to help them through political dialogue with them, through the extension of economic assistance, and also through our cooperation to their efforts to achieve peace where there remain disputes. In that general sense, there is no change in our policy, but at the same time this particular instance has demonstrated that we do have to be mindful of the possible risks in terms of security of the personnel involved. This is something that we need to look into, especially in those countries where we have no Embassies, for example, or where there is no office of an aid organization such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). That is one set of issues that we have been actively looking at, and we will be taking measures where necessary to augment our efforts in that regard.

   Q: Who are the countries concerned that were consulted?

   Mr. Numata: We have been in very close touch with the Government of Kyrgyz, but immediately after the incident took place, we also got in touch with the neighboring countries, such as the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. We continued to keep in touch with them in the sense of gathering information, because gathering information was a very important part of the whole effort. But I emphasize again that the primary task of attaining the release of the hostages lay with the Government of Kyrgyz and we put our full trust in them.

   Related Information (Japan-Kyrgyz Republic Relations)
   
5. Current position of Japan in regard to North Korea following the Japan-Republic of Korea Ministerial Meeting

   Q: I noticed that the meetings in the Republic of Korea were in a very nice atmosphere. At the same time North Korea was accusing Japan of "going beyond the danger line" according to Kyodo. That was during the meetings between the Japanese and Republic of Korean leaders. Does this mean there has been a shift in the confrontation between North Korea on one side and Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States on the other?

   Mr. Numata: I do not know which word I would use to describe the situation. It is true on one hand that North Korean rhetoric does not tend to be soft, but at the same time, it is also true -- and this was indeed discussed in Cheju between the leaders -- that there has been what could be called some positive moves in the process of the dialogue between the United States and North Korea. I am talking specifically about the consultations between the United States and North Korea in Berlin, as a result of which North Korea said they would not engage in missile testing while the consultations with the United States continued. That still is the case. We do feel that the comprehensive and integrated approach by Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States, has in fact contributed to this development, and we would like to see this development continue further to yield more encouraging results. In doing so, we for our part, will continue to take the approach based on the two factors of dialogue and deterrence.

   Q: What kind of deterrence?

   Mr. Numata: Basically maintaining a firm security posture to be prepared to respond to any unforeseen events that may take place. By the nature of the matter, I do not think we go round detailing the components of that sort of approach. If you look at the Perry Report, which is the result of the very close tripartite coordination and collaboration between the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan, it emphasizes the need for engaging in dialogue with North Korea with the view to opening North Korea to the outside world. At the same time, it underlines the importance of maintaining a firm security posture. We do share that approach with the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of Korea.

   Related Information (Japan-Republic of Korea Relations)
   
6. Legal aspects of the Constitution of Japan in terms of nuclear weapons

   Q: Speaking of deterrence, that brings me to the comment made by Mr. Nishimura, who was thinking of nuclear deterrence. I heard the opinion that it is not against the Japanese Constitution for Japan to hold nuclear weapons. Is that right?

   Mr. Numata: If you look at it as a purely legal question, as being entirely separate from a policy question, in legal terms, in terms of the interpretation of the Constitution, our interpretation is that the Constitution allows us to have the right of self defense, and allows us to possess the minimum necessary power for defending ourselves. When I talk about the minimum necessary power for defending ourselves, that does not prima facie exclude nuclear weapons. That is a purely legal argument. What is very important in this particular case is the very firm policy that our Government has adopted as a matter of national principle; that is the non-nuclear three principles -- that we will not possess, manufacture or allow the introduction into Japan of nuclear weapons. It continues to be our firm intention to maintain this policy.

   Q: Do these three non-nuclear principles apply to the American bases in Japan?

   Mr. Numata: I said that we do not intend for Japan to possess, manufacture or allow into Japan nuclear weapons, so yes, it applies to the American bases in Japan.

   Q: So Japan is assured that on these bases there are no nuclear weapons?

   Mr. Numata: We are sure there are no nuclear weapons on the American bases in Japan.

   Related Information (Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation)
   
7. Visit to Japan of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of the Kingdom of Thailand

   Q: Will the Thai Prime Minister meet Prime Minister Obuchi tomorrow morning?

   Mr. Numata: Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of the Kingdom of Thailand is going to meet Prime Minister Obuchi late morning tomorrow, 27 October. There will be a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Obuchi, given in honor of Prime Minister Chuan. He is on an official visit to Japan. This is an auspicious occasion in the sense that this year is the the 72nd year since the birth of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of the Kingdom of Thailand. As a part of the celebrations this year, Their Imperial Highness Prince and Princess Akishino visited Thailand. We do feel that this visit by Prime Minister Chuan is another important occasion to deepen the traditional friendship between our two countries, which is based in part on the close relationship between the Royal Family of Thailand and the Imperial Family of Japan. I might also note that Prime Minister Chuan has been responding successfully to the task of the economic reconstruction of Thailand -- successully I say, because the Thai economy has been recovering since the beginning of this year. There has been very close cooperation between Japan and Thailand as Thailand tries to overcome the challenge of the Asian economic and financial crisis. This visit by Prime Minister Chuan provides us with a very good opportunity to look to the future of the Japan-Thailand relationship and to solidify this relationship further. I might also add that Thailand is acting as the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, and we expect to have the ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting in late November in Manila, as well as the meeting between the ASEAN leaders and Prime Minister Obuchi. We both feel that this is an important opportunity for the Japanese and Thai leaders to discuss the general question of cooperation between Japan and ASEAN.

   Related Information (Japan-Thailand Relations)
   
8. Regarding the possible visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to the Republic of Korea

   Q: Was the visit of the Emperor to the Republic of Korea discussed in the Ministerial Meeting?

   Mr. Numata: Yes, the subject did come up. The Government of the Republic of Korea has extended this very cordial invitation for Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to visit the Republic of Korea. The invitation was extended by President Kim Dae Jung when he came to Japan last year, and it has been reiterated, for example, by Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil when he came to Japan last August. Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil said that the visit by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress can be an epoch-making and symbolic event, and that it is important for the two countries to foster a climate in which Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress can visit the Republic of Korea in comfort. He underlined the importance of the two Governments and the peoples of the two countries working together to build the momentum for such a visit. Prime Minister Obuchi, for his part, thanked the Government of the Republic of Korea, especially President Kim Dae Jung and Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil, for this repeated cordial invitation. He expressed his appreciation on behalf of the people of Japan. He also said that he felt it important to foster this climate. He said that on the part of the Government of Japan, we would like to work closely together with the Government of the Republic of Korea to foster such a climate, with a view to realizing the visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

   Related Information (Japan-Republic of Korea Relations)