(* 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 Koichiro Gemba
Date: Friday, December 7, 2012, 10:45 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Main topics:
- Launching of a “satellite” by North Korea
- The general election
- U.S. subcritical experiment
- Launching of a “satellite” by North Korea
- The General Election
1. Launching of a “satellite” by North Korea
Wada, Fuji Television: Will you explain your response and measures taken by the Government of Japan after North Korea’s announcement to launch its missile in effect?
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: I believe that launching a missile purported to be a satellite is a serious violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions. In particular, this act breaches the Presidential Statement released in April this year. Since this is a severe violation of Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874, we first of all strongly request that North Korea refrain from the launch. Japan is currently working with the United States, the Republic of Korea, China, and Russia, urging North Korea to exercise self-restraint. Again, in case the missile is launched, it will constitute a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions, requiring the international community to take adequate and definite responses. Japan is currently in the process of in-depth coordination on this situation.
Wada, Fuji Television: If in fact the missile is launched as planned, I believe various actions by the UN and also independent sanctions by the Government of Japan will be set in motion. Will you elaborate on this?
Minister Gemba: We are currently requesting North Korea for its self-restraint, and as you just said, at the same time we have already started discussions on measures to be taken in case a missile is launched. Firstly, the Presidential Statement was released last April in which the Security Council expressed its determination to take action accordingly in the event of a further DPRK launch or nuclear test. The international community, including Japan, will naturally take action as specified by the Presidential Statement, and the Government of Japan has already begun approaches to these actions.
In addition, as you just mentioned, as one of the specifics, there can be additional economic sanctions against North Korea. In general terms, there are two ways of additional economic sanctions—those implemented by the international community and those independently imposed by Japan. In any case, we hope to implement them in a most effective manner, and are currently making necessary coordination.
Wada, Fuji Television: Please allow me to go into details. There are some countries that have not necessary implemented sanctions in line with the UN Security Council resolutions so far. In contrast, it may be said that Japan has already exhausted all options with regard to sanctions. What is your take on this?
Minister Gemba: You have a point. Japan has already implemented fairly severe sanctions, which has in effect resulted in zero trade between Japan and North Korea. However, since there are other countries which do not impose these kinds of sanctions, I believe the effectiveness of the sanctions will be further questioned. We hope to properly coordinate our actions taking this point also into account.
Nogami, Asahi Shimbun: When North Korea launched its missile in April, you worked with other countries through foreign ministerial meetings and international conferences to request North Korea’s self-restraint. This time, although it may be due to the fact that incidentally there are no international conferences taking place, we have not really seen this kind of cooperation. How do you evaluate that?
Minister Gemba: I did not conduct direct telephone conferences etc. prior to the last missile launch. Basically, approaches requesting North Korea’s self-restraint and various arrangements thereafter were made at the Director General-level.
Having said that, as you just mentioned, it is true that I was able to form opinions at the Foreign Minister-level through many international meetings held at the time including the Japan-China-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the G8 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. I believe that the Presidential Statement announced at the time was one which was announced in the best form and at the best timing. In case the missile is launched, as I just explained, we have been fully prepared to ensure adequate and definite measures. I believe there is nothing to be worried on this point.
Otani, NHK: You mentioned earlier that the Presidential Statement released in April specified that action would be taken accordingly in the event of a further DPRK launch. To Japan, does that mean to call for the adoption of a resolution?
Minister Gemba: Although it would depend on what the final outcome would be but I believe the Government of Japan must call for definite measures. Since various countries hold respective positions and views, it is never the case including last time that relevant nations have a unanimous opinion from the onset. We must consider how to put all the opinions together, taking into account various factors including timing and which country assumes the chairmanship of the Security Council. Although unfortunately Japan is not a member of the UN Security Council, since we are undoubtedly a country directly related to this issue, we must take our own approaches and lead the international community.
2. The general election
Kamide, Freelance: I have two questions about the general election if possible. Newspaper reports show that unfortunately the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) faces an uphill battle in the coming election. What is your take on this situation? My other question is on the fact that since the DPJ took office, information disclosure has clearly enhanced specifically at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and issues related to the so-called secret agreements were also disclosed, with politics becoming more transparent. Freelance journalists like me are now given access to cover the Ministry. However, these issues have somewhat vanished from the campaign issues, and are not actually reported in newspapers. There are concerns that if there is a regime change, these matters may suffer a setback. What is you view on this?
Minister Gemba: In response to the latter question, I think that the DPJ has made politics more transparent overall. Although I cannot predict what will happen in case a different party assumes power, I can say that politics has become more transparent since the DPJ administration was established. As for the difficult situation facing the DPJ nationwide, we must make the utmost efforts until the very end of the campaign.
I believe that one issue in this election is how money or tax revenue is spent. I do not believe that going back to the Liberal Democratic Party (LPD) administrations’ way of spending revenues will improve the current economic situation. Throughout the last ten years, especially those last ten years of the LPD government, the average economic growth was a negative nominal growth. So I think it is a fantasy that the economy will revive if the LPD comes back to power. At the end of the day, I believe that the highroad policies toward future sustainable economic growth depend on how we address the decrease in the workforce that’s started in the mid-1990s, how we enhance technology innovation, and how we promote economic partnerships. Needless to say, the Japanese Government must take immediate measures in collaboration with the Bank of Japan, and if these measures are not properly implemented, I assume it would be unfavorable.
3. U.S. subcritical experiment
Takekawa, Chugoku Shimbun: The United States has announced that it has conducted a subcritical experiment, which does not accompany a nuclear explosion. Firstly your view on this announcement, and as President Obama has just been reelected, there are substantially angry voices being raised in regions which suffered atomic bombing. Will you share your view on this?
Minister Gemba: The Japanese Government believes that while President Obama has advocated a world free of nuclear weapons, unfortunately sufficiently-effective measures have not been implemented in line with this policy. However, for instance at the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), Japan has led the discussion to make a practical progress toward a world free of nuclear weapons in not only ideal but realistic terms. To that end, Japan in actuality proposed a draft reporting form on transparency. This form, which was actually prepared based on my suggestion, is currently being sent to the Nuclear Weapon States in the joint names of all Foreign Ministers of NPDI members. I believe the point at issue is taking a first step by clearly enhancing transparency, and although it is very understandable to speak of an ideal world free of nuclear weapons, the issue is how in specific terms we will advance toward that goal. I therefore believe that the approaches taken by Japan must continue to be further implemented.
In relation to your question on the areas which suffered atomic bombing, I hope to invite the NPDI to Hiroshima and have delegates visit The Atomic Bomb Dome in the suffered city, and have them renew their thoughts. I believe this will lead the NPDI to become an even stronger group.
4. Launching of a “satellite” by North Korea
Kikuchi, Nippon Television: On the missile issue, if it is to be launched, how do you assess its impact on future negotiations on the abductions issue? While having a Japan-North Korea consultations and directly requesting North Korea to refrain from launching a missile may have been one of the options, please once again assess your decision to have postponed the scheduled consultations.
Minister Gemba: I don’t believe the last Japan-North Korea consultations were meaningless. I am confident that it will be vital in some way in the future. On the fact that the immediate consultations were postponed, it was the Japanese Government’s judgment that even if it were held, the achievements to be earned would be, frankly speaking, the outlook of the achievements would be grim. Since it is important for the international community to take concerted measures, and because these measures should be completely seamless, I am confident that this postponement was the right decision.
Kikuchi, Nippon Television: If North Korea launches its missile, will it take some time for the consultations to resume?
Minister Gemba: I cannot make any predictions, but I do not think it is such a simple matter.
5. The General Election
Suzuki, Yomiuri Shimbun: I would like to ask in relation to the House of Representatives election. As the DPJ faces difficult situations in the campaign, and at the same time various issues, including the missile issue have arisen, it is difficult for even DPJ party leadership to support their candidates’ campaigns. Base on this situation, will you once again offer your view on the current status of the Lower House election?
Minister Gemba: I think it is unavoidable that it is difficult to support our candidates. Public duties must be prioritized and even during election seasons, I must deliver on my responsibility as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and others should deliver on their respective responsibilities as well. I believe it is a matter of course that we expend all possible measures to ensure the safety of our citizens.
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