Press Conferences

(1) Responses to Ballistic Missile Launches by North Korea

Mr. Yasuhisa Kawamura, Foreign Press Secretary: In response to the ballistic missile launches by North Korea on June 22, 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately lodged protests against North Korea twice based on the instruction by Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs. Additionally, pursuant to Minister Kishida’s instruction, at the Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue (NEACD) in Beijing, Japan lodged a strong protest against North Korea again, and exchanged views and confirmed close coordination with countries concerned such as the United States, Japan’s ally, and the Republic of Korea (ROK). The overview is as follows;

1. Today’s ballistic missile launches by North Korea are provocations that undermine the peace and security of the region and the international community including Japan. They are violations of a series of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions including Resolution 2270　and the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, and are also against the spirit of the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. Therefore, they are totally unacceptable.
2. Based on this position, Mr. Kenji Kanasugi, Director-General of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, who is visiting China from June 22 to participate in the NEACD, exchanged views individually with government officials of the United States, the ROK, China and Russia including the Heads of Delegation of the Six-Party Talks respectively, and confirmed that countries concerned will coordinate closely at such fora as the UNSC.
3. Additionally, Director-General Kanasugi had a contact with Ms. Choe Son-hui, Deputy Director-General of Department of US Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Korea, and lodged a strong protest over the ballistic missile launches. Director-General Kanasugi also raised security issues including North Korea's nuclear and missile development and conveyed Japan's position. In addition, Director-General Kanasugi strongly urged North Korea to return all the abductees to Japan at the earliest possible date based on the agreement in Stockholm.
4. Furthermore, on June 22, Mr. Chikahito Harada, Government Representative (the Ambassador for Japan-Russia relations), exchanged views about the ballistic missile launches by North Korea with Mr. Igor Vladimirovich Morgulov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, who is visiting Japan for the Japan-Russia Peace Treaty Negotiations. They confirmed mutual cooperation at such fora as the UNSC.
5. In addition, Japan, as a member of the UNSC, has been cooperating closely with the United States and the ROK in order to issue a strong message at the UNSC.

Abe, Asahi Shimbun: You just mentioned a ballistic missile. Does your analysis at this stage show that both the first and second launches today were ballistic missiles?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: While it is necessary to have experts ascertain whether they were ballistic missiles or not, Japan has taken the responses as I explained based on the assumption that the launches were ballistic missiles.<./p>

Abe, Asahi Shimbun: Regarding the second launch, announcements by the Ministry of Defense and others confirmed that the missile rose up 1,000 kilometers. Are you communicating an analysis conclusion that the second launch was a success?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: I would like to refrain from making any definitive judgments on the second missile at this point as Japan continues to work on its detailed analysis.

Abe, Asahi Shimbun: Some observers are saying that the first missile was a failure. What are your thoughts on this point?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: We are currently making a detailed analysis on this point too. We will continue gathering information and analysis together with the United States or the ROK.

Tadokoro, Mainichi Shimbun: I have two questions. Regarding the just-mentioned attainment of 1,000 kilometers, the Musudan is a more modern missile than the Nodong and the Taepodaung. What is your impression of the Musudan reaching 1,000 kilometers? This achievement is likely to increase concerns that North Korea is moving closer to actual deployment, despite the recent string of failures. What are your thoughts on this?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: On the first point, we think the ballistic missile fired first might have been a Musudan in light of an overall assessment of related information. Details about the second launch, meanwhile, are still under analysis as mentioned earlier, and Japan intends to continue gathering related information in cooperation with related countries and moving forward with the analysis.

Regarding our future response, North Korea has exhibited a stance of intending to proceed with missile development through its behavior up to now and policies presented at the recent Workers’ Party Congress. It is assumed that North Korea continues these activities, so speaking generally, we should acknowledge that the possibility of a continuation of this type of ballistic missile launch cannot be ruled out.

The Government thus, following instructions from Prime Minister Abe and Foreign Minister Kishida, intends to carefully monitor moves by North Korea, collect and analyze necessary information with vigilance while collaborating closely with the United States and the ROK, and put its full efforts into surveillance and monitoring and ensuring peace and security for Japan.

Shimoe, Kyodo Press: My first question is whether Mr. Kanasugi’s contact and opinion exchanges with leading representatives and other officials from the United States, the ROK, China, and Russia and the contact with North Korea’s Deputy Director Choe Son-hui took place this afternoon. The other question concerns the relationship between points 2 and 5 from the announcement text. You confirmed plans to closely cooperate, including at the United Nations Security Council, with the United States, the ROK, China, and Russia. Is specific collaboration at the United Nations Security Council referring to the issuance of a firm message or is there another method of specific collaboration?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: I cannot confirm whether it was the morning or the afternoon in regard to the timing, but Director-General Kanasugi definitely met with related people today.

As to the relationship between 2 and 5, the discussions confirmed close collaboration, including at the United Nations Security Council and other venues. The fifth point refers to Japan, as a member of the United Nations Security Council, working closely with the United States and the ROK to ensure that the Security Council issues a strong message as you read. Japan will be closely collaborating with the United States and the ROK to send a strong message to the Security Council. The second point, meanwhile, mentioned the United Nations Security Council as one of the venues. This means that Japan confirmed close collaboration, not just limited at the United Nations Security Council but also at other venues, with related countries, including not only the United States and the ROK but also China and Russia.

Shimoe, Kyodo Press: I have another question about point 5. What are you specifically envisioning as the strong message aimed at by Japan and by the Security Council – a chairman’s statement, new sanctions, or something else?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: We just started these discussions and this collaboration today, so we have not yet arrived at the stage to say something definite about the detailed formulation and ultimate aim at this point. The most important point is that Japan is seeking to work closely with related countries particularly with the United States and the ROK at the United Nations Security Council meetings. I think this approach will continue.

Morifuji, Yomiuri Shimbun: This question might overlap somewhat with the previous one. Will Japan review further strengthening of sanctions against North Korea after the latest launch? Or will it put emphasis on the steady implementation of existing sanctions?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: Regarding how Japan will respond to today’s two launches especially its stance toward sanctions, I would like to refrain from predicting the answer at this point. Japan will continue to consider responses from the standpoint of being the most effective in eliciting specific responses toward a comprehensive resolution of various issues with North Korea such as nuclear weapons, missiles, and abductions.

Abe, Asahi Shimbun: I have a question regarding the content of the announcement document you just provided. It mentions that Director-General Kanasugi lodged a protest with North Korea’s Deputy Director Choe Son-hui today. How did Deputy Director Choe Son-hui react to the official protest?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: I would like to refrain from discussing details about the specific reaction and other interactions. In any case, the Director-General Kanasugi strongly urged the return of abductees too, in addition to raising the issue of ballistic missile launches.

Abe, Asahi Shimbun: The United Kingdom’s national vote on whether to exit the EU or not is scheduled to take place tomorrow. Foreign Minister Kishida stated in his press conference yesterday that the Government of Japan thinks it is better for Japan that the United Kingdom to remain in the EU. Why is Japan taking a stance that the United Kingdom should stay in the EU? Please explain this point.

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: My answer is the same as what Foreign Minister Kishida explained, and this might make it repetitive. The decision on whether to remain in or exit the EU is something to be entirely decided by the citizens of the United Kingdom. However, as Foreign Minister Kishida explained yesterday, this topic also concerns Japan, and we believe it would be desirable that the United Kingdom stay in the EU. Prime Minister Abe expressed his view during his visit to the United Kingdom on his visit to Europe. Given these points, Japan’s stance from a comprehensive perspective or national interests is that it is preferable for the United Kingdom to remain in the EU.

From the international point of view, the Government of Japan hopes that the United Kingdom, and even further, Europe, will continue to firmly contribute to the peace and stability of the international community as actors that have influence on the international stage. Given that, Japan’s position is clear.