Press Conference 24 September 2002

1. Question on a visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the People's Republic of China
2. Question concerning possible abductee cases in North Korea
3. Question concerning participation in ceremonies to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of Japan-China relations
4. Question in relation to a Japan-US tourism initiative
5. The situation in Kashmir
6. Question regarding policy toward North Korea
7. Question concerning the recent meeting between Prime Minister Koizumi and President Pervez Musharraf of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

1. Question on a visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the People's Republic of China

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have no announcements to make this afternoon, so I would be delighted to answer any questions that you may have.

   Q: In relation to the possible visit of Prime Minister Koizumi to China, Prime Minister Koizumi met with Premier Zhu Rongji in Copenhagen at the ASEM Meeting, and there was no report on the talks regarding the possible visit of Prime Minister Koizumi to China. Is there a reason why there were no talks? And what is the current status of the planning of the visit?

   Mr. Takashima: We understand that the talks between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Premier Zhu Rongji of the People's Republic of China were held in a friendly manner and that very frutiful discussion proceeded in Copenhagen.

   In regard to the possible visit of Prime Minister Koizumi to China, the Japanese Government and the Chinese Government are still taking the position that the visit will be materialized at an appropriate time, convenient to both sides, and the talks have not been completed. Therefore, both sides are still considering the best timing for holding the visit.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
2. Question concerning possible abductee cases in North Korea

   Q: Are there other suspected cases of abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: If there is any case for which the Japanese side considers there is good reason or rationale to believe that this would be a possible suspected case of abduction by North Korea, then we may raise that issue in the course of discussion with the North Korean side. At the same time, if there is further improvement of the relations between Japan and North Korea, then it is possible that we may raise other possible cases of missing Japanese with the North Koreans. It is simply up to the situation surrounding the forthcoming talks with the North Koreans.

   Related Information (Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Visit to North Korea)
   
3. Question concerning participation in ceremonies to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of Japan-China relations

   Q: I heard that some 13,000 people traveled from Japan to Beijing to celebrate the anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and China. What is the view of the Foreign Ministry on this?

   Mr. Takashima: Yes, the Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and a Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs participated along with others. My understanding is that the 13,000 Japanese people gathered in Beijing to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and the People's Republic of China, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did join this commemoration and celebration of the relations between Japan and China, and we hope that these good relations will be further improved and strengthened.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
4. Question in relation to a Japan-US tourism initiative

   Q: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Mr. Evans last month and Mr. Evans and Minister Ogi together signed a document about the promotion of tourism. However, there is no information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have some connection with this program?

   Mr. Takashima: The promotion of tourism is in the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and so they take charge over such things. We have no other comment to make.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
5. The situation in Kashmir

   Q: I would just like to have your comments about the position of Japan regarding Pakistan and India, especially regarding the tense border situation, which has eased since May but still exists?

   Mr. Takashima: Today we took note that there was another outbreak of violence in the region. We do believe that this act of violence should not have happened in the region, especially in conjunction with the local elections there. We have already issued a statement by myself condemning such acts of violence and we, the Government of Japan, strongly hope that the election will be held in a free and fair manner without suffering disruption by terrorist violence or any other sort of violence.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Killing of a Candidate for the Regional Assembly Elections in Kashmir)
   
6. Question regarding policy toward North Korea

   Q: I just want to ask about policy coordination with the United States on North Korea. Some reports came out about Koizumi's visit to North Korea, and not just after the announcement following Prime Minister Koizumi's visit but also after Kawaguchi's briefing in New York. Is there any reason to believe that the policy is really well coordinated between the two countries despite all these reports?

   Mr. Takashima: Prior to the visit to Pyongyang, Prime Minister Koizumi met with President George W. Bush in New York on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly. During the course of the discussions between the two leaders, President Bush wished Prime Minister Koizumi well in talks with General Secretary Kim Jong-Il, and also the Japanese side and the US side discussed in great detail issues like security on the Korean Peninsula as well as in this region.

   In addition to that, the talks between Prime Minister Koizumi and President Bush, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi met with her counterpart, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, in New York prior to Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to North Korea, and then she met again in Washington to report the results of the talks between Prime Minister Koizumi and General Secretary Kim Jong-Il. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi met with National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice shortly after the visit of Prime Minister Koizumi to Pyongyang was finished and again reported. Both Secretary of State Powell and National Security Advisor Rice congratulated the Japanese effort.

   That is some of the good evidence that the coordination between Japan and the United States has been going on very smoothly, and there is no such situation that the US side would take it as something out of their way or out of their mind, but rather close cooperation and exchange of information is going on. So if there is any allegation that the visit of Prime Minister Koizumi to North Korea shows some sign of a gap between Japan and the United States, it is not substantiated.

   Q: Do you think that Japan and the United States agree with how to deal with North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: We are working very closely together on what to do with North Korea, along with the Republic of Korea. The cooperative relations between Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea are well coordinated, and there are no problems emerging.

   Related Information (Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Visit to North Korea)
   
7. Question concerning the recent meeting between Prime Minister Koizumi and President Pervez Musharraf of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

   Q: A meeting between Prime Minister Koizumi and President Pervez Musharraf was held during the UN General Assembly. What were the net results of that meeting?

   Mr. Takashima: Two meetings were held in New York: a meeting with the Pakistani leader and also a meeting with the Indian leader. Both meetings were held in a very friendly manner and, during those two meetings, Prime Minister Koizumi urged the two leaders to keep the forthcoming elections fair and free, without any violence. Also during those two meetings, Prime Minister Koizumi explained the Japanese non-nuclear policy to the two leaders, and he urged both leaders to refrain from any further development of nuclear arsenals and adhere to a non-nuclear policy, including non-proliferation of nuclear arms and nuclear arms development. In addition to that, Prime Minister Koizumi discussed bilateral issues with both leaders, including ways and means of assistance from Japan to both India and Pakistan.

   Thank you very much.

   Related Information (Japan-India Summit Meeting (Summary))
   Related Information (Japan-Pakistan Summit Meeting (Summary))