Press Conference 27 March 2003

1. Question concerning statement by Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly of the United States of America
2. Questions concerning launch of information-gathering satellite
3. Question concerning possible visit to Japan by Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
4. Questions concerning former President of the Republic of Peru Alberto Fujimori

1. Question concerning statement by Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly of the United States of America

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to this special briefing.

   I have no announcements to make but I would be happy to answer any questions you have.

   Q: Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly of the United States of America yesterday to the Foreign Relations Senate Committee talked about the possibility of a ballistic missile launch by North Korea. His assessment is that a launch could come with very little warning. What is your own assessment of the situation in North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: We are aware of the report on the testimony Assistant Secretary of State Kelly gave to the Congressional hearing. We noticed that he mentioned the possible testing or launch of Nodong missiles by North Korea. So far, we do not have any information which indicates that a launch would be imminent but we are carefully monitoring the situation through various means. At the same time, we are urging the North Koreans not to do that because they had promised to put a freeze on the test launch of missiles in and after 2003 when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chairman Kim Jong Il signed the Japan-Democratic People's Republic of Korea Pyongyang Declaration. We believe that if North Korea does that sort of thing, it would seriously hinder the relations between Japan and North Korea.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration)
   
2. Questions concerning launch of information-gathering satellite

   Q: Tomorrow is the launch of the information-gathering satellites. I believe the launch is at 10:20?

   Mr. Takashima: Tomorrow at 10:27 or later, but no later than 10:44.

   Q: Obviously this launch comes at a time of tension on the Korean Peninsula and it is difficult to judge how North Korea would react to the launch of a Japanese missile. Interestingly enough, when they launched the Taepodong in 1998, they clamed that it was also a space launch of a satellite. In view of that, are you raising security for this launch beyond the level for a normal launch? Also, are the country's Self-Defense Forces going to be put on a higher status of alert?

   Mr. Takashima: The reason why we decided to develop a satellite monitoring system is that we thought, and we still believe, that the situation surrounding Japan and the Japanese archipelago requires constant close monitoring. Furthermore, the Government of Japan thought that because of the natural characteristics of the Japanese archipelago, a better monitoring system of large-scale disasters, such as earthquakes or eruptions of volcanoes, would be necessary to cope with such situations. Based upon that kind of judgment, we decided to develop and set up a satellite monitoring system. It has no intention of being hostile toward any country. This is simply aimed to increase our own capability to ensure better security and better means to cope with that sort of natural disaster. We believe that any criticism from North Korea or any other country is not justified.

   Q: When you actually launch the satellite itself, will you be taking any security precautions? I ask this because the time of the launch was actually only announced yesterday whilst usually such launch announcements are made much more in advance. Obviously, the time was not given weeks in advance this time around. Was that for security reasons?

   Mr. Takashima: This satellite system actually involves some classified information and also a very advanced technology. Therefore, we thought that it would be necessary to take a very cautious approach for security reasons. Indeed, the security has been tightened at and around the launch site but it has nothing to do with North Korea. It is rather to prevent any sort of incidents such as a terrorist attack.

   Q: So the security status of the Self-Defense Forces throughout Japan will remain as is at the moment?

   Mr. Takashima: It has been tightened because of the war in Iraq.

   Q: That was done last week?

   Mr. Takashima: It was tightened on March 20. There was an instruction from the Defense Agency to have tightened security in and around the Self-Defense Force bases and installations.

   As to the enforcement of higher security measures at the launch site in Kagoshima Prefecture, it is actually being done by the police and not by Self-Defense Forces.

   Q: Will the level of alert applied on March 20 remain the same tomorrow?

   Mr. Takashima: That is my understanding.

3. Question concerning possible visit to Japan by Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom

   Q: I saw a report on Kyodo News and the Nikkei English Newswire that a proposed trip by British Prime Minister Tony Blair in April will be delayed, possibly until July. Do you have any details on that?

   Mr. Takashima: Nothing had been decided. There was a talk on the possible visit to Japan by Prime Minister Tony Blair, but there was no decision taken by either Government, so there was no delay or postponement. Hopefully, he will visit sometime.

   Q: Sometime this year?

   Mr. Takashima: Hopefully, because the invitation still stands.

   Q: Do you have a time that you are aiming toward?

   Mr. Takashima: No.

   Related Information (Japan-U.K. Relations)
   
4. Questions concerning former President of the Republic of Peru Alberto Fujimori

   Q: Yesterday, Interpol issued an arrest warrant for the former President of the Republic of Peru, Alberto Fujimori. I know that Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Peru. The US is probably the only country that Japan has an extradition agreement with. What will Japan do about this Interpol notice? Are you willing to give up Mr. Fujimori to Interpol?

   Mr. Takashima: This is not an arrest warrant but we have been expecting that notification to come to the Japanese police agency where the Japanese branch of Interpol exists. However, since this is not an arrest warrant and there is no warrant issued by the Japanese court for Mr. Fujimori, we do not expect him to be put into custody for extradition.

   Q: What exactly was the notice that was released?

   Mr. Takashima: Interpol published a press release on March 26 saying that a worldwide international notice or "Red Notice" for the arrest of Alberto Fujimori was issued from its headquarters. This was based upon the arrest order originally issued by the Peruvian police back in 2001.

   Q: So in effect it makes the Peruvian arrest warrant enforceable internationally?

   Mr. Takashima: A Red Notice is used by Interpol to seek the arrest and extradition of individuals wanted by one of its member police organizations. However, Interpol's members follow their national law in deciding whether to consider it a valid request for provisional arrest. In this country, the law specifically states that no one can be arrested except by the warrant issued by the Japanese court, or at the scene of the actual crime being committed. This Interpol notification does not constitute an arrest warrant issued by the Japanese court.

   Q: If Japan pursues criminals overseas, does Japan issue warrants through Interpol?

   Mr. Takashima: It is done on a case-by-case basis.

   Q: Has it done so in the past?

   Mr. Takashima: I think there was a case when Japan asked Interpol for the location of a certain criminal.

   Q: What is Japan's stance toward Interpol in general and countries being able to arrest criminals in other countries? Is there an official Government stance?

   Mr. Takashima: The only stance that the Government has is that Japanese law specifically says that one can only be arrested by a warrant issued by the Japanese court.

   Q: What is Mr. Fujimori's status in Japan? Does he have dual citizenship?

   Mr. Takashima: He has Japanese nationality.

   Q: Has he given up his Peruvian nationality or does he maintain both?

   Mr. Takashima: I believe he has dual citizenship.

   Q: Is he under the protection of the Government of Japan and law?

   Mr. Takashima: He is protected by Japanese law but there is no special protection given by the Government of Japan.

   Q: Does the Government disclose his location or is it kept confidential?

   Mr. Takashima: That is not our business. We do not have any intention to withhold or disclose his location. He is a citizen living freely in Japan.

   Related Information (Japan-Peru Relations)