(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone

Date: Friday, April 10, 2009, 8:54 a.m.
Place: In front of the Ministers' Room in the House

Main topics:

Extension of Measures against North Korea
North Korean Missile Issue
Agreement concerning the Relocation of the US Marines in Okinawa to Guam
Physical Condition of Chairman Kim Jong-il

1. Extension of Measures against North Korea

Question:
Please give us your thoughts on the effectiveness of additional sanctions for North Korea, which was decided at the Cabinet Meeting.

Minister:
One purpose of the additional sanctions is to gain a fresh and thorough understanding of the actual situation regarding the flow of money, so the position of the Government of Japan will be clear. We have issues such as the abduction issue and the missile issue. Therefore, taking firm action in this way is an appropriate response by the Government of Japan.

2. North Korean Missile Issue

Question:
The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister will leave for Pattaya today. While Japan-China-ROK Summit Meeting will take place there, the Security Council is discussing matters concerning North Korea. How do you position your visit this time?

Minister:
I received a telephone call from Mrs. Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States, and we exchanged views on the current situation. I stated that the Security Council must consider a stern response to North Korea, which is something I have been saying in the past. We agreed to continue to cooperate toward the realization of a resolution. Later, I had a telephone conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, and we likewise agreed to make steady efforts on cooperation. The Japan-ROK Summit Meeting, Japan-China Summit Meeting, Japan-China-ROK Summit Meeting, and foreign ministers' meetings are planned in Thailand because of the ASEAN+3. I intend to take these meetings as an opportunity to discuss this issue and convey to China, in particular, Japan's position.

Question:
Did the conversation with Secretary of State Clinton take place today?

Minister:
Yes, just a while ago.

Question:
What about a Security Council Resolution?

Minister:
Yes, we have agreed on it. We confirmed our intention to continue our efforts toward its adoption.

Question:
During the telephone conversation with Secretary of State Clinton, didn't the US make a proposal to settle the matter through a Presidential statement?

Minister:
No. The US is making various efforts in New York, and on our part, our policy is to deliver a stern response to North Korea. This has been conveyed to various countries through telephone conversations and other means. We have talked about making efforts toward the adoption of a resolution.

Question:
So it was not the case that the US tried to persuade Japan to settle the matter through a Presidential statement?

Minister:
We have obtained information through our embassy on the discussions currently taking place in the United Nations in New York. In response, we have given instructions to settle the matter with a resolution. This is something that I confirmed with Secretary of State Clinton as well.

Question:
Did you and Secretary of State Clinton agree on issuing a resolution?

Minister:
Yes. We agreed to continue to make efforts toward doing so.

3. Agreement concerning the Relocation of the US Marines in Okinawa to Guam

Question:
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives will vote on the Agreement concerning the Relocation of the US Marines in Okinawa to Guam today. However, issues such as the alleged inflation of the expense for relocating the 8,000 people keep rolling in; the Okinawa side has appealed that it would be better to keep the matter under deliberation in order to clarify these points. Do you feel that there has been enough deliberation?

Minister:
The number has not inflated. I have already answered to the Diet that the figure was for the full strength (of the US Marines in Okinawa). I intend to make this point clear once again to the Committee today. It is our intention, considering the major burden shouldered by the people of Okinawa for such a long time, to realize at the earliest possible date the relocation of the US Marines to Guam, which is spelled out as one of the measures of the Roadmap (for Realignment Implementation), in the hope that we can alleviate that burden. I will explain this at the Committee today, and expect that the vote will take place within the day.

Question:
Was the issue mentioned during the telephone conversation with Secretary of State Clinton this morning?

Minister:
No. The issue was not mentioned.

4. Physical Condition of Chairman Kim Jong-il

Question:
The Chairman of North Korea, Kim Jong-il made an appearance yesterday. How do you assess the physical condition of Kim Jong-il as well as the future of the North Korean regime, after seeing the video?

Minister:
I did see the video on the news. I had heard that he had fallen ill, and if that was the case, my impression is that he has recovered a great deal.

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