Press Conference 1 April 2003

1. Appointment of Ambassador in Charge of Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq Fumiaki Takahashi
2. Suspension of humanitarian assistance in the Syrian Arab Republic
3. Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Command Admiral Thomas B. Fargo
4. Questions concerning missile launch by North Korea

1. Appointment of Ambassador in Charge of Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq Fumiaki Takahashi

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Today I have three announcements I would like to make.

   The first announcement is about the appointment of the Ambassador in Charge of Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq.

   Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi today appointed Mr. Fumiaki Takahashi to the newly created post of Ambassador in Charge of Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq. Ambassador Takahashi, who served as the Minister Plenipotentiary in charge of the Third World Water Forum until yesterday, will act as the contact point of the Government of Japan with foreign governments, including those of the United States of America and the United Kingdom, regarding the political process and the formulation of the international effort for the reconstruction of postwar Iraq.

   Ambassador Takahashi will also take part in policy coordination among the various ministries and agencies within the Government of Japan in order to make Japanese participation in the international effort to assist in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq effective and operational.

   Related Information (Japan-Iraq Relations)
   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
2. Suspension of humanitarian assistance in the Syrian Arab Republic

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the suspension of humanitarian assistance in the Syrian Arab Republic.

   The Government of Japan decided to suspend humanitarian assistance in the border area between Syria and Iraq because of security considerations as well as the refugee situation there. The Japanese Government's five-man medical team, which has been assisting the work of a Syrian hospital in that region, is leaving Syria tomorrow upon completion of its mandate.

   Another medical team from Japan that was sent to the border area to conduct preparatory study of the dispatch of a large-scale medical team was also instructed to return to Japan. The Government of Japan will suspend further assistance until there is change in the situation, such as an easing of tension or the sudden emergence of refugees there.

   In conjunction with this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday issued a new travel advisory designating the Syrian border area with Iraq an area Japanese are advised not to plan a visit to.

   Related Information (Preparatory Mission for Dispatch of a Medical Team of Civilian Experts for Iraqi Refugee Aid)
   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
3. Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Command Admiral Thomas B. Fargo

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and the Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Command.

   Minister for Foreign Affairs Kawaguchi yesterday met with the Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Thomas B. Fargo. During the course of discussions, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Admiral Fargo agreed that the North Korean development of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. However, at the same time, they agreed this issue should be resolved peacefully and diplomatically.

   Foreign Minister Kawaguchi expressed the strong wish of the Government of Japan that the military action in Iraq be concluded as quickly as possible with minimum civilian casualties. Admiral Fargo responded that American forces are trying to minimize civilian casualties as much as possible and not to destroy the social infrastructure in Iraq.

   Related Information (Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements)
   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
4. Questions concerning missile launch by North Korea

   Q: Could you please give us as much information that you have regarding this North Korean missile? What is the reaction of the Government of Japan?

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan has information suggesting that the North Koreans launched a land-to-sea missile, which is not a ballistic missile, between 10:00 and 11:00 today from the northwest coast of North Korea. We do not have any confirmation of the actual area that the missile hit, nor do we have precise information about the launch. However, since this is not a ballistic missile, we do not think that this would pose a direct threat to the security of Japan. We do, however, take this action by North Korea as another act of escalating the tension surrounding the Korean Peninsula, and we strongly urge North Korea to stop this kind of action and return to the negotiating table to resolve the issue regarding North Korean nuclear weapon development in a peaceful and diplomatic manner.

   Q: At the time of the previous test firing, North Korea warned surrounding countries that it was going to conduct a test. Was Japan given advance warning this time?

   Mr. Takashima: As far as we know at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there was no advance warning issued by the North Koreans about firing into the Sea of Japan, which was previously the case. Our understanding is that this time, the missiles were launched toward the direction of the Yellow Sea instead of the Sea of Japan.

   Q: Was there any sign or any information that any authority perceived ahead of time, because there was a kind of mood in the country that there could be another launch?

   Mr. Takashima: As far as I know, there has not been any sort of advance warning as such. We do not disclose the details of the communication between the Japanese and American governments or forces.

   Q: What is your analysis of North Korea's motives for this launch?

   Mr. Takashima: I would like to avoid any sort of speculation. However, let me simply point out that tomorrow will be the last day of joint exercises between the forces of the United States and the Republic of Korea.

   [Additional Remarks by Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima at 18:30 hours: With regard to the information concerning the launch, it is still being checked. You will be notified if there is any further information.]

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration)