Press Conference, 18 June 2009

Japan's measures towards North Korea
Visit of the President of the Republic of the Philippines to Japan
Visit of the Iraqi Foreign Minister to Japan
Japan's special envoy attends Mongolian presidential inauguration
Questions concerning Japanese trade measures toward North Korea
Questions concerning the visit of the Iraqi Foreign Minister to Japan
Questions concerning the upcoming visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to Japan
Further questions concerning North Korea
Questions concerning two Japanese men stopped at the Italian-Swiss border

I. Japan's measures towards North Korea

Deputy Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura: Good afternoon. Welcome. Let me start with brief announcements before I take your questions.

First, on North Korea, on Monday, the 16th, Japan announced two additional measures in its relations with North Korea. There are two measures. One is trade-related and the other is related to personal exchanges.

Today, on the 18th, the trade measure has been put into effect. This means that any items to be shipped to North Korea are prohibited to export.

Japan strongly urges North Korea to heed the firm message of the international community seriously and comply fully and faithfully with the present and other relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. We also reiterate our position that North Korea should return to the Six-Party Talks at an early date and make efforts for the full implementation of the joint statement of September 19th, 2005 and take concrete actions towards resolution of outstanding issues of concern, including the Japanese abduction issue.

II. Visit of the President of the Republic of the Philippines to Japan

Second, is about the Philippine-Japan relations. Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines, arrived yesterday on the invitation of the Japanese Government. Prime Minister Aso and President Arroyo will hold a summit meeting this evening. After the meeting, the two leaders are expected to issue a joint statement. In 2006 Japan and the Philippines issued a joint statement titled "Partnership between Close Neighbors for Comprehensive Cooperation". We hope that based upon this joint statement, President Arroyo's visit to Japan this time will further expand and strengthen our bilateral relations to develop strategic partnership and economic relations including the current efforts to address the economic crisis.

III. Visit of the Iraqi Foreign Minister to Japan

Third, also yesterday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Mahmoud Zebari arrived in Japan as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We hope this visit will further strengthen the strategic partnership relationship between Japan and Iraq, based upon long-term perspective.

Related Information (Press Release)

IV. Japan's special envoy attends Mongolian presidential inauguration

One additional piece of information. Today, Mr. Tsutomu Takebe, Chair of Japan Liberal Democratic Party's Parliamentarians' League on promotion of friendship between Japan and Mongolia, is to attend the inauguration ceremony of Mongolia's newly elected President Tsakhia Elbegdorj as special envoy of the Japanese Government.

Now, let us go on to your questions.

V. Questions concerning Japanese trade measures toward North Korea

Q: You said from today, North Korea, what kind of items of trade have been banned, or is it a total ban between North Korea and Japan?

Mr. Kawamura: With this additional policy measure, now all items to be shipped to North Korea for export are prohibited. On the import side, we have so far already taken similar steps. No importation has been prohibited, and this time, all exports are prohibited. In other words, no more trade with North Korea.

Q: So, roughly, how much will the value be?

Mr. Kawamura: I will give you the more detailed figures later.
[Note: The total export value from Japan to North Korea in the FY 2008 was 800 million yen.]

VI. Questions concerning the visit of the Iraqi Foreign Minister to Japan

Q: The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq is visiting now. Would it be possible to know how about the projects in infrastructure, education or transportation or other things? The Japanese Government has already made in Iraq some big projects. Some infrastructure, some education, schools, or medical; can I get some information about it?

Mr. Kawamura: Yes. Please refer to the joint press statement which is expected to be issued this evening. The Japan-Iraq relations are entering into a new phase. Japan is committed to Iraqi economic development and stability through our cooperation. Private investments into Iraq are also expected and encouraged. On the ODA side, we would like to continue to cooperate for further stability in Iraq.

Q: Is there one meeting or more than one meeting scheduled between the Foreign Ministers? And, when and where?

Mr. Kawamura: I will give you more details in a handout.
[Note: Foreign Minister Zebari will meet with Defense Minister Hamada and will pay a courtey call on Prime Minister Aso tomorrow.]

Related Information (Press Release)

VII. Questions concerning the upcoming visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to Japan

Q: About the summit meeting between Prime Minister Aso and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, is there any detailed schedule or any specifics?

Mr. Kawamura: We detect the keen interest of the press about the summit meeting between Japan and South Korea, but still, we do not have a fixed date. We will continue to work on the early holding of the summit meeting between the two leaders, as this is the main feature of the "Shuttle Diplomacy" between Japan and the Republic of Korea.

VIII. Further questions concerning North Korea

Q: The first question is what is the purpose of North Korea's series of provocative actions?

The second is about the role of Japan in the stabilization or denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, in particular the peace to be brought the peninsula, and North Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks. For those two particular purposes, how could Japan lead North Korea to take correct actions?

Mr. Kawamura: For your first question, about the main purpose of North Korea's provocative actions; it is not appropriate for us to speculate on the purposes of the series of actions. But whatever the motivation behind them may be, I need to underline that the international community has sent a unified and strong message to North Korea that the provocation be stopped and that they react to the concern.

Question two, the role of Japan; North Korea is expected to respond seriously and faithfully to the international community's voices, most in particular, in the form of United Nations Security Council Resolutions. We do hope that North Korea takes the message seriously, fully implements the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and takes correct actions. More precisely, to return to the Six-Party Talks, and pay high attention and take necessary measures in regards to the humanitarian issues, including the Japanese abduction issue.

Any other questions?

Q: Dealing with the North Korean issue, how much do you think will be the damage to the local economies which still have some trade between the two countries, like for example in the Western area of Japan and so on.

Mr. Kawamura: Of course, I do not have the particular data of the possible impact on the local economy. I am sure there might be some impact on existing trade between the local communities and North Korea.
[Note: The total export value from Japan to North Korea in the FY 2008 was 800 million yen]

But we have to emphasize that this issue is in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1874 which calls for all the member countries to cooperate. Through those actions we hope that peace and stability in the region be restored.

IX. Questions concerning two Japanese men stopped at the Italian-Swiss border

Q: One of the last questions, and this has nothing to do with the North Korean issue, but can you give me an update on the present status of the two Japanese who were arrested in Italy for carrying fake US bonds?

Mr. Kawamura: The answer is that our consulate general in Milan, yesterday, on the 17th, clarified the case with the local prosecutor's office in Como. According to the Como prosecutor's office, on the first of June, at the station called Chiasso, the financial police conducted an inspection of personal belongings of the tourists. This station, Chiasso, is located on the border between Italy and Switzerland. As a result of their inspection, they found that the two gentlemen who held Japanese passports possessed a substantial amount of securities in their belongings. Therefore, the financial police questioned them with their consent. The two gentlemen received questioning there. After the questioning, the two gentlemen were freed, so they are not under arrest at this moment.

Q: So, is it wrong to say that they were arrested?

Mr. Kawamura: For the questioning period on the first of June, according to the prosecutor's office, they were in some official building for questioning, but with the consent of the two gentlemen.

Q: So, they were freed, and what happened then?

Mr. Kawamura: They left the place and are free now.

Q: But they found that those securities were fake.

Mr. Kawamura: My understanding is that the authorities in Italy are now investigating and studying about the securities. We have not found any result out of it at this moment.

Q: So, you have not confirmed yet if those securities are fake or not?

Mr. Kawamura: At this moment, no, we are not capable of confirming that.

It is the judgment of the Italian authorities. They decided to free the two gentlemen who held Japanese passports and the securities. But I understand that the authorities decided they could continue to investigate the securities while the two gentlemen were not under arrest.

Q: So, actually, they were not arrested, they were detained for some time.

Mr. Kawamura: On a voluntary basis, stayed in place for questioning.

Q: Let me confirm again; you have not confirmed whether they are Japanese or not, but your understanding is that they are Japanese passport bearers?

Mr. Kawamura: We could, but the basic policy requirement for us is that only with the consent of the passport holders can we disclose the name or nationalities and so forth. But, we have not received authorization from those gentlemen, so I would like to refrain from saying who they were or whether or not they were Japanese.

Q: So, you still keep in touch with those two people?

Mr. Kawamura: Well, it is possible to keep in touch, but the Italian authorities decided that they could go.

Q: In the case that those securities are true, the genuine ones, I understand that they have to pay an amount of money for bringing out such a huge amount of securities and actually they did not.

Are they in Italy now?

Mr. Kawamura: They were in Italy. I am not sure if they are still in Italy. They already left the border station.

Q: And you do not know where they are?

Mr. Kawamura: We cannot tell you even if we know where they are.

Q: My last question is that I understand that they have been followed by this finance police as some reports said. Is it true?

Mr. Kawamura: I do not have any information to confirm it.

Any other questions? Thank you very much.

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