Press Conference by the Press Secretary 18 October 1996
- Recent developments regarding the Rodong Missiles
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the regular Ministry of Foreign Affairs press briefing. Today, I have nothing to announce to you, and I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.
Q: There have been reports out of North Korea that they are preparing for tests of the Rodong Missile, and the Japanese Self Defense Agency has confirmed the possibility of that. I would like to know the Japanese Government's reaction toward their plans?
A: We are aware of media reports about a possible missile test by North Korea, but, these reports have not been confirmed. Such being the case, I would like to refrain from commenting on the Government of Japan's response to this -- except to say that, the research and development by North Korea of longer-range missiles is a destabilizing factor in this part of the world, and also in the entire international community. This is a source of great concern for us.
Q: Yesterday, the Chief of Staff of the Japanese Self Defense Forces was quoted as saying that there is a possibility of such a test going on. He was quoted; he said that this missile is a Rodong Missile. But, according to some American sources, they are saying that it might not be a Rodong Missile, it might be a type of Scud B Missile. Is the Japanese Self Defense Agency sure that the missile in question is a Rodong Missile?
A: I am also aware of the news reports of the statement made by the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs. But the position of the Government of Japan is that the reports of the Rodong Missile have not been confirmed and I have not heard anything of these missiles being Scud Missiles.
Q: Coming back to the report of the imminent missile firing. Can you confirm that the U.S. forces have an electronic intelligence aircraft in the south?
A: I am not in a position to answer that question.
Q: I have been listening to the exchange with my colleague. Essentially, what you are saying is that the Japanese Government has not independently confirmed that this missile firing is imminent?
A: Yes.
Q: Coming back to the North Korean subject. Do you mean that Japan does not see any threat, if say that this information is confirmed. Don't you see any threat from the North Korean side to Japan?
A: In the absence of independent confirmation of this report, I would like to refrain from commenting further, except to repeat what I said earlier -- which is that these reports of the development of longer-range missiles is a source of great concern to the Japanese Government.
Q: This may be hypothetical, but would the Government of Japan wish or plan to have some measures to independently confirm such kind of information in the future.
A: Of course, the Government of Japan is making constant efforts to collect information which has a bearing on Japan's security, and this will continue to be the case in the future.
- Takeshima Island
Q: One final question. The Korean Government has moved on Takeshima Island -- they have started shipping materials to build an observation deck and landing facilities. Do you have any response to that?
A: We have seen media reports about that, but we have not confirmed these reports.
- Japan-Russia relations
Q: It seems that there is a struggle in the Kremlin in Moscow after Yeltsin sacked his National Security Advisor Lebed. What information does the Japanese Government have in this regard, and what are you looking for in the situation in Russia?
A: We have a policy of not commenting on the internal affairs of other countries. In keeping with this policy, I would like to refrain from making any comments on this matter -- except to say that Japan will be watching very closely the developments in Russia, including the state of President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation's health, and also the situation in Chechnya. As far as the Japan-Russia relations are concerned, we do not believe these recent developments will have any impact on our ties. As you know, since the beginning of the year, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto met President Yeltsin in April, and the Foreign Ministers of the two countries have already met four times. There is agreement on the two sides that Minister of Foreign Affairs Evgenii M. Primakov of the Russian Federation will visit Japan in mid-November. We do not believe what happened yesterday will have any impact on this diplomatic calendar or on Japan-Russia relations in general.
Q: So you didn't receive any notes from Moscow?
A: We have seen this in the media, and I am sure that we have had reports from our embassy in Moscow.
Q: In regards to Primakov's visit.
A: You are referring to Foreign Minister Primakov's visit? There is agreement between the two sides that Foreign Minister Primakov will be visiting Japan in mid-November. I believe we are working on the exact schedule.
Q: So far no notes from Moscow?
A: This is a guess, but I think that both sides are working on it; they are discussing the exact timing for the visit.
Q: Tomorrow is the 40th Anniversary of diplomatic normalization between Japan and Russia. There was a lot of reports by Japanese newspapers arising from the current situation between the two countries, but these were news reports. Can you describe your official point of view on the current situation between the two countries -- what do you think, what does the Foreign Ministry think about this?
A: I think that the ties -- the relationship -- between Japan and Russia is in good shape. As I have said in response to a previous question, there have been a lot of high level-level, top-level contacts between the two countries. In addition to the meeting of the top leaders in Moscow in April, and the four meetings by the Foreign Ministers, the Japanese Director-General -- the Defense Minister -- visited Moscow. There is a standing invitation for Minister of Defense Igor Rodionov of the Russian Federation to visit Japan. In preparation for the visit of the Russian Defense Minister, both sides have agreed to hold talks at the working level. At the time of Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigorii Borisovich Karasin of the Russian Federation visit to Japan, the Japanese side suggested that we might hold this working level meeting of defense people in December. So, there are a lot of high level contacts going on between the two countries in various areas. This means that there is a more intense political dialogue between the two countries, and I think this is very good. I believe that there is full agreement between the two countries to move forward the relationship based on the Tokyo Declaration.
Q: Are you planning to exchange some official letter on the occasion of the date of this anniversary?
A: I will have to check and get back to you.
Q: Maybe you have some plans to organize some events here?
A: I will have to check and get back to you on that. Thank you very much.
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