Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 2 December 2010

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 2 December 2010

  1. The Situation in the Korean Peninsula
  2. Meeting and Dinner between Mr. Seiji Maehara, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO
  3. Visit to Japan by Miss Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator
  4. Visit to Japan by Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
  5. COP16
  6. Other Diplomatic Visits
  7. Questions concerning the Situation in the Korean Peninsula
  8. Questions concerning a Visit to Japan by Mr. Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea
  9. Questions concerning the Transfer of the Precious Archives from Japan to the Republic of Korea

  1. The Situation in the Korean Peninsula

    2. Deputy Press Secretary Hidenobu Sobashima: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much for coming.

    Mr. Sobashima: Today, first I would like to refer to the situation in the Korean peninsula. Last week I already explained the basic position of the Government of Japan in the wake of the shelling by North Korea. The first is that Japan strongly condemns North Korea; second, Japan supports the Republic of Korea; and third, that Japan intends to coordinate with the Republic of Korea, and to have coordination trilaterally among Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States in various fora, including the United Nations Security Council. These are the basic positions.

    Today, we have announced that there will be a trilateral Foreign Ministers’ meeting next Monday in Washington DC among Mr. Seiji Maehara, Foreign Minister of Japan, Mrs. Hilary Clinton, US Secretary of State, and Mr. Kim Sung-hwan, South Korean Foreign Minister. In the trilateral meeting, we envisage discussions on the recent Korean peninsula situation in the wake of the shelling by North Korea on Yeonpyeong Island. Also, the three Foreign Ministers are expected to exchange views on the regional situation and international issues that the three countries are facing. We expect that the three Foreign Ministers will agree to continue to coordinate among the three countries. This is about the Korean Peninsula.

  2. Meeting and Dinner between Mr. Seiji Maehara, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO

    3. Mr. Sobashima: Secondly, there was a meeting and dinner between Mr. Seiji Maehara, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO.

    On November 25th (Thu), the meeting and dinner took place between the Foreign Minister and UNESCO Director-General. This visit by Director-General Bokova is the first visit to Japan after she assumed the post of Director-General of UNESCO. One of the issues that the two people discussed was a commemorative event for the 40th anniversary of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 2012 in Japan.

  3. Visit to Japan by Miss Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator

    4. Mr. Sobashima: Then is the visit of Miss Helen Clark, head of the UNDP, to Japan. She met Minister Maehara and Prime Minister Kan on the 30th, that was last Tuesday. The issues the two sides discussed included Afghanistan, Pakistan, Africa, the environment, climate change, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Japanese side proposed hosting an international meeting in Tokyo next year as a follow-up to the MDG Summit held in New York in September.

  4. Visit to Japan by Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

    5. Mr. Sobashima: Then is the visit of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. As a matter of fact, she left Japan this morning.

    On November 29th (Mon), Foreign Minister Maehara paid a courtesy call on the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, and there was a summit meeting between Prime Minister Kan and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. We have distributed the joint statement issued after the summit meeting. 

    I would simply like to refer to some issues listed in this joint statement, a constructive dialogue between the two countries on bilateral, regional and global issues. And then the discussion on the Bangladesh development objective "Vision 2021."

    As for the economic relationship between the two countries, the two Prime Ministers decided to commence close and regular dialogues at the senior official level to identify measures to strengthen their economic partnerships, including in the areas of trade, investment and infrastructure development. They also referred to the existing Japan-Bangladesh Joint Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation.

    Then, they discussed the infrastructure projects. In this relation, Prime Minister Kan announced that Japan intends to extend approximately USD400 million in the form of an ODA Loan to the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project. They also discussed the MDGs and the Kan Commitment, et cetera.

    There were various other issues like people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and also nuclear disarmament issues such as the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).

    They also discussed climate change issues. The two sides agreed on the importance of the earliest adoption of a new and comprehensive legal document which establishes a fair and effective international framework for tackling climate change with the participation of all major economies based on the Copenhagen Accord.

    There was a reference of support by Bangladesh for Japan’s permanent membership in the UN Security Council.

  5. COP16

    6. Mr. Sobashima: We distributed Japan’s basic policy on climate change, as now COP16 is underway in Cancun, Mexico. I have just said that the Bangladeshi and Japanese Prime Ministers agreed on this basic principle, that the international community should adopt at an early occasion, a new comprehensive legal document which establishes a fair and effective international framework in which all major economies participate, based on the Copenhagen Accord.

    As you know, Japan has set an ambitious target for emission reductions, a 25% reduction by 2020 compared to the 1990 level, on the condition that all major economies participate in this legal framework I mentioned. Japan is supporting developing countries with what we call the “Hatoyama Initiative,” total assistance of approximately USD15 billion up to 2020. We already hosted the Ministerial Meeting on Forest Conservation Cooperation and Climate Change (REDD+) on the margins of COP10 of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

  6. Other Diplomatic Visits

    7. Mr. Sobashima: As for the visits, as I already mentioned, the Bangladeshi Prime Minister left Japan. We expect Bolivia’s President, Mr. Evo Morales, will be coming on the 7th and 8th of this month. Our State Secretary Mr. Banno is visiting Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Turkey between the 28th of November and 4th of December.

    These are the topics and information I would like to share, and I invite your questions.

  7. Questions concerning the Situation in the Korean Peninsula

    8. Q: Regarding North Korea, if I may ask, during the Chonan incident, the Japanese Government said that they will support the South Korean Government whatever measure they take. Now it is again something that South Korea has to deal with. Is it the same approach – that Japan will say, if the South Korean Government will go to talk to North Korea to have the Six-Party Talks for example, or just the Crisis Talks – is this something the Japanese Government will follow?

    Mr. Sobashima: I think you recall the situation when the Japanese government made that statement. In the Chonan incident, the sinking of the ship, and also the victims, 46 people – that was an act done by North Korea. And again this time there was the shelling of an island by North Korea and the victims are South Korean. Therefore, the Government of Japan expressed condolences to the victims, and at the same time condemned North Korea, and expressed the intention to support the Republic of Korea. As we are friends; as the Republic of Korea and Japan share the common value of democracy and we have friendly relationships economically and otherwise, therefore, the government decided on each occasion that we support the Republic of Korea. We decided to coordinate with the Republic of Korea and also with the United States on how to address the situation.

    Q: In that respect, the Government of Japan has repeatedly said that it is not interested in Five-Party Talks – the six parties without North Korea. At the end of September, I asked the then-Korean Minister of Defense, and he said they were very interested in Five-Party Talks, and they were preparing for that. Now, you just said that the Government of Japan is supporting and following what South Korea decides in that respect. There is a contradiction here. Are you part of these possible Five-Party Talks or not?

    Mr. Sobashima: I am not ready to comment on that. That question of yours is specific on the Five-Party Talks.

    I would like to repeat what the Government is saying on the Six-Party Talks. What is most important is not convening the meeting itself; as Foreign Minister Maehara repeatedly stated, what is most important is the results. We need progress through these talks. This is the basic position.

    The reason for having the meeting should not be because we have had this incident, because North Korea did this and did that – that should not be the reason for having the meeting. I would just like to repeat what Minister Maehara has repeatedly said, what is most important is the progress we need to achieve. In this way we approach the issue of Six-Party Talks, and perhaps also in dealing with various other matters as well.

    Q: The South Korean opposition says that as long as the Six-Party Talks were running, despite them not bringing about results, as long as they were running, we did not have such incidents as this shelling and possibly the Chonan. This, of course, would be an argument to have the talks for the talk’s sake, if you can prevent things like that. What is the Japanese Government’s attitude toward this thinking, which is quite common in South Korea?

    Mr. Sobashima: I need to comment on what you have already referred to earlier. The Government of Japan says that we will conduct close coordination and consultation between Japan and the Republic of Korea and among Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States. That is all that we said. We did not – you refer to a thing further than that, ‘if the Republic of Korea decides something, Japan will follow’ – what we said is that we will consult and coordinate.

    Therefore, as to what you have said, I would like to refrain from predicting or prejudicing what will happen out of the consultation between Japan and the Republic of Korea, as we will soon have a Foreign Ministers’ consultation between three countries. So I would rather refrain from commenting on what you have asked.

    Q: One last question, how would you characterize Japan’s vision for a solution or a long-term policy toward North Korea. What is the goal?

    Mr. Sobashima: Thank you for that question. Our consistent policy vis-à-vis North Korea, is that we need to achieve the solution of the nuclear weapons, missiles and abduction issues. We are seeking to solve all of these issues. Then we will be able to conclude a peace treaty between Japan and North Korea.

    Q: A follow-up of that – South Korea is holding, starting from Monday, artillery drills. They said that they will have these artillery drills next week for one week going on. How is the Japanese Government thinking about such drills? This is not a special drill together with the United States, but just South Korea doing something to secure their own security regarding North Korea. Is this something that can help the process to solve the crisis on the Korean Peninsula or something that could further enhance the tension there?

    Mr. Sobashima: I should be cautious about a new comment. Thus I would like to explain our position in general terms, that, of course, each country has the right to protect itself and defend itself. For that purpose, the country is entitled to prepare itself. If the exercise is for that purpose, and if the exercise will deter something which is not favorable – that should be justified.

    Further than that – what I have just said is a general comment – I would like to refrain from commenting, specifically in respect to what you referred to, the recent events, the drilling which will take place. I think it is the right of every country to protect its own country and for that purpose it has the inherent right to do the precautions.

    Q: If I may follow-up, the shelling of the South Korean island was definitely an inhumane action by North Korea, but if North Korea decides now to have artillery drills, for example, and not to aggress the South Korean territory but do its own territory, then this is okay too, because it is an act of the right of self defense or preparing themselves?

    Mr. Sobashima: I am sorry for changing my mode of response a little bit. In relation to your earlier specific question, I answered in general terms. Regarding your question this time, I would like to say that we would like to refrain from commenting on hypothetical scenarios.

    Q: I would like to ask about the situation at the UN Security Council, has Japan made any specific moves regarding the shelling by North Korea, at the Security Council?

    Mr. Sobashima: Thank you. I would like to repeat what I already said, that Japan intends to coordinate with the Republic of Korea and the United States in various fora, including the UN Security Council. We understand that an informal consultation took place, and we participated. Our view is that we will continue to participate in consultations. Our position is as I explained, that we will coordinate and consult with the Republic of Korea and the United States. Further than that, I would like to refrain from commenting.

    Q: Last weekend, there were quite intense contacts between with South Korea and China. Was Japan, during this crisis, in contact with China to discuss what was going on? Mr. Dai Bingguo went to see President Lee. Was any such high-level contact made between Japan and China?

    Mr. Sobashima: Yes, thank you. Last week I already explained that there had been a meeting between Foreign Minister Maehara and Mr. Cheng Yonghua, Chinese Ambassador to Japan on the 24th. Later, I think it was the following Saturday, there was a telephone conversation between the Foreign Ministers of Japan and China also. As you know, on the 30th, last Tuesday, Director-General Mr. Saiki visited China for consultation with Mr. Wu Dawei, the Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Issues. These are examples of contacts. We will continue to contact China. I already explained last week that it is a common view, not only in Japan, but perhaps also in other countries like the Republic of Korea and United States, that China’s role is very important. We urge China to be constructive. We hope that China plays a constructive role on this issue.

    Q: Can you tell us something about Mr. Saiki’s conversations?

    Mr. Sobashima: Except that he had instructions from Minister Maehara for the Six-Party Talks – that the purpose should be progress, not the meeting itself – that was the instruction given by the Minister before Director-General Saiki’s departure from Japan to China, among other instructions.

    Q: Was there the feeling by the Japanese Government last week that there is a war just around the corner or just getting started, and how do you assess the situation now? Is it calmer than last week?

    Mr. Sobashima: Again, I just would like to repeat what the Prime Minister said immediately after the shelling, on the same day. The Government should be prepared for any eventuality. Other than that I would like to refrain from commenting.

    Q: But the Cabinet was not allowed to leave Tokyo over the weekend? That is over, they can go now?

    Mr. Sobashima: Maybe.

    Q: Maybe?

    Mr. Sobashima: Sorry, I said maybe because I need to confirm. My understanding is that at least until yesterday, the last day of the joint exercises of the United States and the Republic of Korea, the Ministers were requested to stay a very close distance to Kasumigaseki and Nagatacho.

  8. Questions concerning a Visit to Japan by Mr. Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea

    9. Q: Still South Korea, but another topic; the Chief Cabinet Minister has said that there is probably not a chance for President Lee Myung-bak to visit Japan in the middle of December. Can you explain why these plans have changed?

    Mr. Sobashima: No, what I can say is that the timing of the Korean President’s visit to Japan is under consultation and consideration between the two governments and has not yet reached a conclusion. This situation continues, and that is the situation. Perhaps the Chief Cabinet Secretary may have said something, please note that. For myself, I would like to refrain from adding such things, but just to explain, the two countries are still arranging the timing. This situation still continues.

  9. Questions concerning the Transfer of the Precious Archives from Japan to the Republic of Korea

    10. Q: I also read in the news that this year the Diet will probably not confirm the possibility of giving artifacts back to South Korea. Is the Japanese Government feeling a little bit sad about that? It would nice to have this done in this year of the centennial.

    Mr. Sobashima: The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and other senior officials of the Government stated that they hope for the early approval of the Diet, as soon as possible. That is the feeling of the Government of Japan. We understand that the situation in the Diet is rather difficult, but our hope is for the early approval of the treaty between the two countries, so that we will be able to transfer the archives to the Republic of Korea soon.

    Thank you very much.

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