Press Conference 4 March 2003

1. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan
2. Meeting between Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi and Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz of the Republic of Iraq
3. Visit by Senior-Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Yano to the Republic of Angola
4. Postponement of departure from Japan by President of the Council of State Fidel Castro of the Republic of Cuba
5. Questions concerning incident involving North Korean jets
6. Questions concerning North Korean nuclear activities
7. Questions concerning negotiations with North Korea
8. Questions concerning situation in Iraq

1. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Today I have four announcements I would like to make.

   The first announcement is about the telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan.

   Minister for Foreign Affairs Kawaguchi had a telephone conversation with Secretary-General Annan last night for about 15 minutes starting from about 23:00. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi discussed with him the issue of the United Nations Security Council's action on the draft resolution on the Iraqi situation proposed by the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain. She restated the Japanese position that this draft resolution represents a last-minute diplomatic effort to resolve the issue concerning Iraq peacefully and diplomatically. She also reiterated the necessity of the Government of Republic of Iraq complying fully with all the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and disarming completely and verifiably all the weapons of mass destruction.

   Related Information (Japan and the United Nations)
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2. Meeting between Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi and Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz of the Republic of Iraq

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the meeting between Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi and Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz of the Republic of Iraq.

   Deputy Foreign Minister Motegi met with Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz yesterday at 19:30 for about two hours in Baghdad. During the meeting, Senior-Vice Minister Motegi handed over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's letter to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq and urged the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister that Iraq fully comply with all the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council on the issue of weapons of mass destruction of the Government of Iraq.

   Related Information (Japan's Diplomatic Efforts on the Issue of Iraq)
   
3. Visit by Senior-Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Yano to the Republic of Angola

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the visit of Senior-Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Yano to the Republic of Angola.

   Deputy Foreign Minister Yano will be visiting Angola on 5 and 6 March. As you may know, Angola is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and during his stay there, Minister Yano will present a letter from Prime Minister Koizumi to President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola and urge the Government of Angola to support the draft resolution which is now on the table of the UN Security Council on the Iraq question in order to show the solidarity and unity of the international community vis-à-vis the situation in Iraq.

   Related Information (Japan-Angola Relations)
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4. Postponement of departure from Japan by President of the Council of State Fidel Castro of the Republic of Cuba

   Mr. Takashima: The fourth announcement is about the postponement of the departure of President of the Council of State Fidel Castro of the Republic of Cuba to Cuba.

   President Castro was scheduled to leave yesterday upon conclusion of his visit to Japan. However, due to weather conditions, his special flight did not leave Hiroshima yesterday. Instead, the plane left Hiroshima at 12:30 today. After refueling at Narita airport, it left Narita airport for Cuba at 16:10.

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5. Questions concerning incident involving North Korean jets

   Q: I would like to ask about the incident, involving the North Korean MiGs and the US reconnaissance planes. That is a serious incident. What is Japan's view of that action by North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: We are aware of the incident, and we have recognized that the United States Air Force made an announcement of the incident in Washington, D.C. The Japanese position has already been expressed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, that this kind of action by North Korea would heighten the tension in the region and should not be exercised.

   We do not have any further information on this, so that is the only comment that I can make at this moment.

   Q: On the same incident, what does this mean for Japan? What does it imply to Japan in relation to the Japan-North Korea relationship? Obviously, it is going to affect the relationship between North Korea and the United States. What does that imply for Japan? Also, what are the options that Japan has concerning future diplomacy with North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: We do not have any idea on what intentions North Korea had when they scrambled those four MiGs to the area and intercepted the US reconnaissance plane. However, we recognize that the North Koreans have been taking these kinds of unfavorable actions, not only this time but also in the past days and weeks, including some actions at the Yongbyon nuclear reactor site. We urge North Korea to refrain from any actions which would adversely impact on the situation. We hope that they will listen to the voice of the international community, which is urging North Korea to become a responsible member of the international community.

   Q: An incident like that could of course have gone very badly and turned into potential conflict. Is that not a danger of these acts of provocation by North Korea whether it be missile tests or this MiGs incident? Do you see it as a danger that they could trigger conflict which could lead to something worse?

   Mr. Takashima: Of course, if these two jet planes came as close as 400 feet to each other, it would really represent some danger, and we do hope that North Korea will refrain from these kinds of actions.

   Q: US officials have responded by saying that they would talk to their allies about protest. Of course, Japan is one of the chief allies in the region. Has there been any contact between Japan and the United States about what kind of protest to lodge with North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: We do not discuss any details of the contact between Japan and the United States on these kinds of issues. However, my understanding is that Japan and the United States are in regular contact with each other.

   Q: Last week, according to an NHK report, two members of the Democratic Party of Japan visiting Washington met with State Department officials, and during that meeting, it was stated that as tensions are on the rise, there would be a need for a greater presence of the US military in the East Asia region. I have not heard any reaction to that report. Is the Foreign Ministry aware of this, and what is its reaction?

   Mr. Takashima: We are aware that there was an NHK report to that effect. However, we are not in favor of discussing military issues officially when it comes to the United States Armed Forces' activities. Generally speaking, we do understand that the United States as a partner of the Japan-US Security Arrangement would take necessary measures if it felt that some military action or operation was necessary.

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6. Questions concerning North Korean nuclear activities

   Q: About the North Korean nuclear activities in Yongbyon, has the Japanese government submitted any official protest to North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: On the resumption of the nuclear reactor at Yongbyon, we understand that operations have been started, and we are very much concerned because this is not an action that should be taken by the North Koreans. Rather, they should return to their original position based upon the arrangement between North Korea and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which put a freeze on that nuclear reactor, and they should let the inspectors back into the facilities.

   Our position is known to the North Korean side, but I would prefer not to call it an official protest. However, we have regular channels of communication through which our position is known to them.

   Q: The next step in this process with the reactors is the restarting of the reprocessing. What would your view be about the subject of "crossing the red line," as is one phrase that has been used that action by North Korea? That is to say, do you think that it is likely to happen, and what is your view on that matter?

   Mr. Takashima: We strongly hope that North Korea will not reactivate the reprocessing plant or resume the reprocessing procedures, because this would represent a serious violation of the international commitment that North Korea has already made with the relevant international bodies, as well as the Agreed Framework between the United States and North Korea. Furthermore, it is a violation of the Japan-Democratic People's Republic of Korea Pyongyang Declaration which was signed between Prime Minister Koizumi and Chairman Kim Jong Il. We sincerely hope that North Korea will not do such a thing.

   Q: Have there been reports of possible actions by Japan should that happen by way of sanctions? Has such a thing been discussed?

   Mr. Takashima: As far as the Government of Japan is concerned, sanctions are not what we are now considering. We still believe that this issue should be resolved peacefully and diplomatically.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
7. Questions concerning negotiations with North Korea

   Q: What is the position of the Government of Japan on North Korea's request that it sign a non-aggression treaty with the United States instead?

   Mr. Takashima: We recognize that the Government of the United States and government officials, including President George W. Bush, have already expressed their intention not to attack North Korea. Furthermore, the Government of the United States has been expressing its strong wish to resume dialogue with North Korea. We hope that the North Koreans will seriously listen to what the United States has to say and return to the negotiation table with the United States.

   Q: So you would consider that the North Koreans are the ones who are dodging the negotiations?

   Mr. Takashima: At least they are staying away from them.

   Q: So Japan and America are willing to start now such negotiations?

   Mr. Takashima: Japan is always available and willing to resume the normalization talks between Japan and North Korea, and also the security dialogue between our two countries. We are waiting for the positive reply from the leadership in Pyongyang.

   Q: Is that without any preconditions?

   Mr. Takashima: We do not attach any preconditions, but we do want to discuss the issue of nuclear development by North Korea, as well as abduction cases.

   Q: What is Japan's position on the North Korean leadership? Do you have any request or any policy, such as the American policy to change the Iraqi leadership? Does Japan have any reservations about the North Korean leadership?

   Mr. Takashima: Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan met with Chairman Kim Jong Il and signed the Pyongyang Declaration in which both sides expressed their desire to improve relations between the two countries.

   Q: On the issue of talks with North Korea, one of the key issues for North Korea has been about multilateral versus bilateral talks. North Korea wants to speak directly to the United States one-on-one, but the United States wants to have talks in a multilateral forum. What is Japan's position? Does it want to see direct talks between the United States and North Korea, or does it favor multilateral ones?

   Mr. Takashima: My understanding is that the United States prefers multilateral talks along with bilateral talks. They have not excluded any possibility of having bilateral talks with North Korea. We are just waiting to see what sort of reaction or position North Korea will take regarding this issue.

   As far as Japan is concerned, we also believe that multilateral fora would be desirable in dealing with the North Korean issue, in particular because nuclear development is a matter of concern, not only of Japan or the United States or the Republic of Korea but the international community as a whole.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
8. Questions concerning situation in Iraq

   Q: What is Japan's position on the Iraqi leadership? We know that the United States wants to change the leadership or get rid of it. We also know that the recent Arab Summit which witnessed a request or proposal to ask the Government of Iraq to voluntarily go into exile? Can you comment on this issue?

   Mr. Takashima: We do not believe that President Saddam Hussein is a democratic leader or that he is pursuing the policy to avoid the sufferings of his people. We hope that he will take another look at himself and become a truly democratic, responsible leader.

   Q: According to Jiji reports, during Mr. Motegi's meeting with Iraqi leaders, he failed to convince Iraq to disarm. Do you have any additional information on his visit to Iraq?

   Mr. Takashima: As I have said, during the course of the discussion, Mr. Motegi reiterated the Japanese view that the Government of Iraq should disarm its weapons of mass destruction in a verifiable manner and as soon as possible, because time is running out for Iraq, and the international community is united in requesting the Government of Iraq to comply fully with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 1441 and 687.

   My understanding is that Deputy Prime Minister Aziz said that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction and also showed strong willingness to fight fiercely against the United States if a war erupted in that region. Senior Vice-Minister Motegi said that the international community still has very strong doubts on the issue of weapons of mass destruction of Iraq, and urged Deputy Prime Minister Aziz to prove with evidence Iraq's insistence that they have none. Otherwise, the doubt cannot be wiped away, and it is also the responsibility of the Government of Iraq to do so as is written in the various UN Security Council resolutions. That is the outline of the discussion between the two officials.

   Q: I understand that Iraq recently raised the issue that Israel owns arms of mass destruction and wants the international community to look into this matter with the same enthusiasm and sincerity. What is Japan's comment on this?

   Mr. Takashima: It is Iraq whose name is written on the UN Security Council resolutions and the Government of Iraq should be aware of that.

   Q: So Japan does not consider this an issue at all?

   Mr. Takashima: We are now discussing Iraq and not Israel or any other country.

   Q: However, as I understand it, is Japan not against weapons of mass destruction anywhere?

   Mr. Takashima: I will repeat my position that we do not want to see weapons of mass destruction existing on the face of this Earth.

   Related Information (Japan's Diplomatic Efforts on the Issue of Iraq)