(* This is a provisional translation by "WIP ジャパン" for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Foreign Minister Taro Aso

Date: Friday, July 7, 2006, 10:50 a.m.
Place: Briefing Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

Emergency Aid for Internally Displaced Persons in Timor-Leste
Cabinet Meeting
The North Korean Missile Launch
"The Honebuto Policy: 2006": Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Management and Structural Reform

1. Emergency Aid for Internally Displaced Persons in Timor-Leste

(See Japanese Version)

2. Cabinet Meeting

(See Japanese Version)

3. The North Korean Missile Launch

Question:
The Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wu Dawei, is working unofficially for a resumption of six party talks.

Minister:
I think that if unofficial six party talks are possible, holding them would be desirable. The problem will be finding a way of bringing the parties together, but if that can be done then I believe they should be held.

Question:
Today the Director of the Asia and Oceania Bureau, Kenichiro Sasae, went to Beijing, as will US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia-Pacific, Christopher R. Hill. I assume that there will be some form of contact between Mr. Sasae and Mr. Hill, will there not?

Minister:
They did not go to Beijing for any prearranged meeting, and I don't know any details or their schedule. However, if time allows, then I think that naturally there is a good chance of them meeting.

Question:
What is Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wu Dawei, seeking to do?

Minister:
Basically he seems to be seeking to convene six party talks that include the United States and North Korea. As the situation is quite unclear, it is very important for the representatives of the Six Parties to meet face to face. Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wu Dawei, seems to be of the same opinion and is urging that talks take place. At this stage it is difficult to see what the state of the relationship is between China and North Korea.

Question:
The United Nations' Security Council has begun meeting. As expected, China and Russia are displaying caution regarding sanctions. What kind of approach is Japan planning to take?

Minister:
We use the word 'swift' a lot, and I think the swift submission of a draft resolution is important. However, coming out with a swift submission often involves a weakening of the content. It is important to come out with a swift and a rigorous response. On the 6th, at 11:30 New York time, a group of experts held a meeting regarding the draft of a resolution. I cannot say anything regarding the details, but I do know that the thirteen nations besides Russia and China are in favor of the resolution, while Russia and China are expressing their wish for a chairman's statement. The 13 other nations are working on the resolution that they are expected to adopt; however, the very process of drawing up an adoptable resolution tends to detract from the rigor which is the focal point of the diplomacy.

Question:
I believe that, as you said, there is no argument over the necessity of sending a strong message. However, were nothing more than a chairman's statement to be issued, would you object to that if it had a strong message worked into it?

Minister:
Yes, I would. The weight of a resolution and a chairman's statement are different.

Question:
So does that mean you desire the issuing of a resolution?

Minister:
That's right.

Question:
Reports say that North Korea is preparing for the launch of yet more missiles. What is the present situation regarding this?

Minister:
I am really unable to make a statement regarding this. I saw the word 'experiment' written somewhere, but experiments are not usually carried out at night. Such activity is usually considered tantamount to military maneuvering. That is the opinion I believe experts in the field of military matters would hold of it. There is never any guarantee that such incidents won't be followed up by the same, so I think it is correct therefore to assume that they might be.

Question:
So, do you think that there is a chance of Taepodong-2 becoming a reality, it having failed?

Minister:
Not being a military expert, I cannot really say how correct the analysis that the third launch ended in failure is. Of the seven launched yesterday, the third one was the Taepodong. Calculating back to where it was launched from, it is likely to have been the Taepodong. So working on the assumption that it was the Taepodong that failed, I think that from a commonsense military perspective it is highly likely that another launch can be expected.

Question:
In Pyongyang, the Deputy Director-General of Foreign Affairs, Song Il Ho, asserted that the launching of these missiles was not in contravention of the Pyongyang Declaration.

Minister:
Then he takes a completely different view of the matter from us.

4. "The Honebuto Policy: 2006": Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Management and Structural Reform

(See Japanese Version)

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