Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 25 November 2010

The Shelling of Yeonpyeong, Republic of Korea, by North Korea
Visit to Australia by Foreign Minister Maehara
Visit to Japan by Mr. Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority
Dispatch of Election Observers to the Early Parliamentary Elections of the Republic of Moldova
Public Symposium Hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and United Nations Information Centre – A better path to peace: dynamic collaboration between peacekeeping and peacebuilding
Visit to Japan by Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO
Questions concerning the Telephone Conversation between Minister Maehara and Secretary Clinton
Questions concerning the Possibility of Further Sanctions against North Korea
Questions concerning further coordination between China and Japan regarding North Korean Issues

The Shelling of Yeonpyeong, Republic of Korea, by North Korea

Mr. Sobashima: With respect to the shelling of the South Korean island Yeonpyeong, last Tuesday the 23rd, a liaison office was established in the Prime Minister’s office and also in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the same day. As you know, a Cabinet-level emergency meeting was held on that day. Then, yesterday on the 24th, a Cabinet-level task force was established. The government is collecting information as well as preparing for any eventuality, upon the instruction of the Prime Minister.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister himself had a telephone conversation with Korean President Lee Myung-bak, and Foreign Minister Maehara had a phone conversation with Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, and he had a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Cheng Yonghua. Early this morning, Minister Maehara had a telephone conversation with Secretary Clinton of the United States.

In his phone conversation with his Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Maehara first expressed deep condolences to the victims and sympathy to the families of the killed and injured, and for those injured, hoped for an early recovery. Minister Maehara expressed solidarity with the Korean people, and stated that the Government of Japan strongly supports the Republic of Korea. He said that the shelling by North Korea is impermissible, and Japan condemns strongly North Korea for having done this.

In this conversation, Minister Maehara also referred to the issue of the enrichment of uranium by North Korea, and said that as North Korea continues provocative acts, it is necessary for us to monitor the situation closely. The two ministers, Minister Maehara and Minister Kim Sung-hwan, agreed on the importance of having a message in one voice from the international community addressed to North Korea. They also agreed to coordinate closely between Japan and the Republic of Korea, and trilaterally: Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States. The Prime Minister had a similar conversation with his counterpart, President Lee Myung-bak.

As for the meeting between Foreign Minister Maehara and Chinese Ambassador Cheng Yonghua, the two exchanged views on the current situation in the Korean peninsula and agreed to coordinate between the two countries – that is Japan and China.

As for the telephone conversation this morning between Minister Maehara and Secretary Clinton, Minister Maehara condemned the shelling and he expressed the intention that Japan will coordinate with the Republic of Korea. He appreciated the position of the United States, which is clear and resolute. Foreign Minister Maehara explained the contents of the telephone conversation between Minister Maehara and his counterpart in the Republic of Korea, and also the telephone conversation between President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Kan. Secretary Clinton appreciated the position of the Government of Japan, which strongly condemned North Korea, and she referred also to the issue of the enrichment of uranium by North Korea. She stated that the United States and Japan should coordinate in the wake of this incident. She also explained the joint military exercises currently underway between the Republic of Korea and the United States of America. The two ministers of Japan and the United States agreed on the important role that China can play. Finally, the two ministers agreed that Japan and the United States should continue to coordinate closely, and that the three countries – Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea – should coordinate closely.

So this is about the shelling.

Visit to Australia by Foreign Minister Maehara

Mr. Sobashima: I would like to explain the visit of Foreign Minister Maehara to Australia.

Last Tuesday, the 23rd of November, Foreign Minister Maehara visited Canberra, and he had meetings with Trade Minister Emerson, Foreign Minister Rudd, Defense Minister Smith, and he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Gillard.

Foreign Minister Maehara’s visit to Australia is the first official bilateral visit after his assumption of the post of Foreign Minister. This was also his first visit after the government decided on the basic policy on comprehensive economic partnerships. The Australian side welcomed Foreign Minister Maehara, as he attached importance to the bilateral relationship between Japan and Australia.

In his meeting with Trade Minister Emerson, the focus was on economic issues of course, and as for an EPA between Japan and Australia, the two sides agreed that the two countries should accelerate negotiations. Trade Minister Emerson appreciated the explanation by Foreign Minister Maehara on the basic policy on comprehensive economic partnerships that Japan recently formulated. In view of the very important economic relationship between the two countries, they decided to launch a fresh start between the two countries to accelerate negotiations on the EPA between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Maehara explained his economic diplomacy – diplomacy for Japan’s national economic interests. He explained the three pillars: 1) EPA/FTAs; 2) Ensuring the stable supply of natural resources, energy resources and food to Japan; 3) Export from Japan of infrastructure. By infrastructure, he means such things as nuclear reactors, high-speed railways, et cetera. He said that in all of these, Australia is a very important partner – for the EPA, resources, and the export from Japan of infrastructure. The Australian side, particularly Foreign Minister Rudd, assured Foreign Minister Maehara that Australia will continue to be a stable supplier of resources, including rare earths. The two Foreign Ministers, Foreign Minister Maehara and Foreign Minister Rudd, exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula situation in their meeting held later that day, on Tuesday, the 23rd. They agreed on the importance of coordinating with the Republic of Korea and other countries.

We have distributed the joint statement entitled “Joint Statement on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation” issued by Minister Maehara and Minister Rudd. They reviewed the progress made in this field and also they expressed their intention on how they will proceed with this very important issue. I think that this document is self-explanatory, so I would like to refrain from explaining what is written there. Anyway, the two Ministers issued a joint statement on the occasion of Minister Maehara’s visit to Australia.

As for your information, Minister Maehara, finding the time between the meetings he had in the Australian Parliament, visited the Australian War Memorial and paid tribute to the victims of war, particularly in front of the statue of Dr. Dunlop.

So this is about the Foreign Minister’s visit to Australia.

Visit to Japan by Mr. Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority

Mr. Sobashima: I have an oral presentation again on the visit of the Palestinian Prime Minister. Yesterday he had a meeting with Prime Minister Kan and also with Foreign Minister Maehara.

They discussed the situation in the Middle East and the peace process and also the cooperation that Japan is extending for the Palestinian people. Prime Minister Kan and Foreign Minister Maehara referred to the fact that the assistance being made so far is reaching, for Palestinians, USD100 million this fiscal year – among other things that they discussed.

Dispatch of Election Observers to the Early Parliamentary Elections of the Republic of Moldova

Mr. Sobashima: Another topic is the dispatch of election observers to the parliamentary elections of the Republic of Moldova.

The Government of Japan has decided to dispatch an expert on regional affairs as well as a diplomat of the Embassy of Japan in Moldova, resident in Kyiv, as election observers to the international election observation mission organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe / the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), in order to support fair conduct of the parliamentary elections of the Republic of Moldova, which are scheduled for November 28th, that is this coming Sunday.

Public Symposium Hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and United Nations Information Centre – A better path to peace: dynamic collaboration between peacekeeping and peacebuilding

Mr. Sobashima: The next topic is on the public symposium, "A better path to peace: dynamic collaboration between peacekeeping and peacebuilding."

A public symposium entitled, "A better path to peace: dynamic collaboration between peacekeeping and peacebuilding." is to be held on Wednesday, the 1st of December, at United Nations University (UNU). The aim of this symposium is to promote in-depth discussion on peacekeeping and peacebuilding, an area to which Japan attaches much importance. Ms. Sadako Ogata, President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr. Mutrif Siddig Ali Alnimeiri, State Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, The Republic of the Sudan, Mr. Ouch Borith, Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr. Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations (UN), are among the speakers/panelists who will be participating in the symposium.

Visit to Japan by Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO

Mr. Sobashima: As for visits, I would like to remind you that UNESCO’s Director-General, Mrs. Bokova, is in town, and she is expected to have a meeting with Foreign Minister Maehara this evening, followed by a dinner. She is expected to stay until the end of this week.

So these are the topics that I would like to share with you. I invite your questions please.

Questions concerning the Telephone Conversation between Minister Maehara and Secretary Clinton

Q: With regard to the telephone conversation between Minister Maehara and Secretary Clinton, is it true that they also discussed about a possible meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Japan, the United States and South Korea in December in Washington DC? There was a news report about a trilateral Foreign Ministers meeting.

Mr. Sobashima: I am afraid I am not in a position to comment on that report. Anyway, what we just want to explain is that Secretary Clinton and Minister Maehara agreed on the importance of coordination between the three countries. In what modality and what manner and when that will take place, I would like to refrain from commenting. However, of course, at various levels consultation and coordination should take place among the three countries.

Questions concerning the Possibility of Further Sanctions against North Korea

Q: I heard that the Japanese Government is thinking of additional sanctions against North Korea. What would the additional sanctions be?

Mr. Sobashima: Thank you for the question. I think it was in yesterday’s press conference that Minister Maehara already stated that of course we do not exclude any possibilities; however, we feel it is very important to exchange views first between the Republic of Korea and Japan, and perhaps trilaterally among Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States. And then we will consider what to do. At this stage, we do not have a measure we would like to explain to you. Minister Maehara said that he will consider what action we are going to take after consultations with the Republic of Korea and also among Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States.

Q: This was in the newspapers?

Mr. Sobashima: It was in the press conference. The record of the press conference is on our website. Unfortunately, at this time, only in Japanese. Already yesterday’s press conference is displayed on our website. Its English translation will be released later. So you can check on the website what he actually said.

Questions concerning further coordination between China and Japan regarding North Korean Issues

Q: In addition to the meeting between Minister Maehara and Chinese Ambassador Cheng, is there additional coordination going on between Japanese and Chinese officials at the high-level on the North Korean issue?

Mr. Sobashima: Again, I don’t exclude the possibility, but the Minister and the Ambassador agreed that the two countries should coordinate, therefore there are various possibilities of varying levels and channels and opportunities. I would like to refrain from commenting further than stating the fact that the two sides agreed to coordinate between the two countries.

Thank you very much.

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