Press Conferences

Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I have four announcements at the outset.

The first announcement is about my visit to the Republic of Poland. In accordance with Prime Minister Kishida’s instruction, from April 1 to April 5, I will be visiting Poland as a Special Envoy of the Prime Minister. In Poland, which has been accepting a large number of people displaced from Ukraine, I will confirm the situation of the evacuees in the country and hold meetings with government dignitaries and representatives of international organizations. Through these meetings, I intend to identify the local needs and gather information about issues associated with accepting evacuees, which will lead us to determine the further assistance that Japan will provide.

Japan is supporting the people of Ukraine who are facing difficulties and accepting people who evacuated from Ukraine to a third country to demonstrate further solidarity. All government organizations, including the Ministry of Justice and other relevant ministries and agencies, intend to provide necessary assistance while obtaining the understanding of the people.

Minister Hayashi: The next announcement is about measures against North Korea. Particularly since the beginning of 2022, North Korea has been repeatedly launching missiles in an unprecedentedly high frequency and new manner, increasing its nuclear and missile activities. North Korea’s series of actions, including the launch of an ICBM-class ballistic missile on March 24, which further increased tension over the situation, pose a threat to the peace and stability of Japan, the region and the international community, and are totally unacceptable.

In this situation, the Cabinet meeting today approved the designation of an additional four entities and nine individuals involved in the development of nuclear weapons and missiles banned by the United Nations Security Council Resolution and added them to the list of asset freeze measures under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. These are Japan’s further measures against North Korea to comprehensively resolve various issues of concern such as abductions, and nuclear and missiles issues.

Japan will strongly urge North Korea to take concrete actions to resolve various issues such as abductions, and nuclear and missiles issues. We will continue to work toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea, while maintaining close Japan-U.S. and Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) coordination, and cooperating with the international community.

Minister Hayashi: The third announcement is about the reviewed Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) monitors the situation of infectious diseases abroad including the situation of the novel coronavirus disease and issues the Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases as a reference for those who intend to travel and stay abroad.

While the infection situation of the novel coronavirus is different in each country and region, as a global trend, the number of new infection cases and deaths has been falling. The risks of death and severe cases have decreased mainly in the countries that made progress in vaccine rollouts, and the relaxing of border measures and relevant domestic restrictions have also advanced in these countries.

Based on these trends and other factors, the Government of Japan has recently reviewed the Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases by comprehensively considering the actual situation of each country and region. As a result, the number of designated countries for Level 3 “Avoid All Travel” will be reduced from 162 countries and regions to 56 countries and regions. For details, please refer to the press release that will be released after this.

We recommend that those who will travel abroad from Japan plan to receive a vaccination in good time beforehand and continue to refer to the Overseas Travel Safety Information, including the Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases.

Minister Hayashi: This is the last announcement.

On April 1, the Government of Japan decided to extend Emergency Grant Aid of a total of approximately $11.65 million as humanitarian assistance to Myanmar ($8.3 million) and Palestine ($3.35 million).

Since the coup in February 2021, clashes have occurred intermittently mainly in the southeastern and northwestern regions of Myanmar. As a result, the number of internally displaced persons rapidly increased, and they are facing shortages of food and daily necessities. This Emergency Grant Aid will provide $8.3 million to be delivered directly to the people of Myanmar through the offices of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

In Palestine, while the clash between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in May 2021 continues to affect the Gaza Strip, the resurgence of novel coronavirus infections and the damages caused by the flood at the end of January 2022 have further deteriorated the humanitarian situation in the area. In response to this situation, the Government of Japan decided to extend the Emergency Grant Aid of $3.35 million, which will provide food and health/medical assistance including care for patients through the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The Government of Japan will continue to provide support and stand with the people of Myanmar and the Palestinian refugees. That is all from me.

Asahi Shimbun, Nohira: I would like to ask a question related to your visit to Poland that was mentioned at the beginning. When you are returning, the Government of Japan is considering helping those who would like to evacuate to Japan by letting them board the Japanese government plane. Could you tell us the current state of coordination?

Minister Hayashi: While visiting Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine and has been accepting a large number of evacuees from Ukraine, I will hold meetings with government dignitaries and representatives of international organizations. I will also confirm the situation of the evacuees from Ukraine in Poland. However, these plans, including the point you have just asked about, are currently being coordinated. For further details, please ask the MOFA officials in charge.

Sankei Shimbun, Chiba: About your visit to Poland, former Foreign Minister Kono pointed out on social media that, according to your overseas visit schedule, you will fly back to Japan on April 5, attend the Diet on April 6, and on the same day you will fly again to Europe to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Mr. Kono seems to be raising a point from the view of the reform of the Diet and said that this schedule could make you exhausted, which could lead to a loss of diplomatic opportunities in Europe and damage the national interest. Although the schedules for the NATO meeting and other plans may still be coordinated, please tell us your views on such a whirlwind visit and tight schedule.

Minister Hayashi: My diplomatic schedule after April 5 is currently being coordinated. I would like to express my gratitude to the Diet and other relevant parties for their understanding and various considerations with respect to the importance of these overseas visits.

NHK, Aoki: I would like to ask about the Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases. The warning levels for nearly 100 countries will be lowered or reviewed, but when visiting these countries, what types of travel with what types of purposes, for example, are expected to become easier to carry out?

Minister Hayashi: The Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases is issued primarily as an indication to decide on overseas travel and safety while staying abroad. It is a warning on infectious diseases and does not have any coercive force to limit traveling and staying abroad among the people. On this basis, I am aware that some companies and universities use the Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases levels as a reference for making decisions on overseas travel, including business trips and study abroad.

MOFA will continue to gather information in coordination with relevant local governments and organizations to deliver information, including appropriate advice, to Japanese nationals living overseas and overseas travelers.

Pan Orient News, Azhari: My question is what is Japan’s terms, quote-unquote, to lift its sanctions against Russia? And we heard US President Biden call on a regime change in Russia, although it's not clear the case, but do you have the same opinion that you can’t deal with the current regime in Russia?

Minister Hayashi: Thank you for your question. To answer your question about the conditions for lifting sanctions, Japan considers that it is necessary to impose stringent sanction measures against Russia in cooperation with the G7 and the international community, urging Russia to heed the voice of the international community and stop the invasion. For this reason, Japan has swiftly coordinated tough measures.

I would like to refrain from speculating about the point regarding the conditions you asked about. In any event, Japan will continue to respond appropriately in cooperation with the G7 and the international community.

Concerning other question of the two questions you asked, about the matter related to the Government of the United States, we understand that the U.S. Government is “not calling for regime change in Russia.”

The Government of Japan believes that President Putin must stop Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and withdraw its troops as soon as possible. We will strongly urge Russia to do so while imposing stringent sanctions on Russia along with the other members of the G7 and the international community.

Taking into consideration the future situation, Japan will continue to appropriately work on the issue in cooperation with the G7. At this point, I would like to refrain from answering any further.

Independent Web Journal, Hamamoto: I would like to ask about Ukraine. In a news program on March 18, Mr. SUMI Shigeki, former Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine, was asked about President Putin’s remarks, “We see and know what is happening in Donbas […] It certainly looks like genocide,” and totally denied it on the basis of his experience at the time of his assignment in Ukraine. At the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense of the House of Councilors on March 8, you were asked about whether genocide was being committed. You answered that you would follow the development of the situation going forward and did not deny the possibility of genocide. In addition, the “Handbook of International Terrorism 2021” published by the Public Security Intelligence Agency acknowledged the Azov Battalion, a private militia group in Ukraine, as a white supremacist neo-Nazi organization. Furthermore, the UNHCR, in its report on the human rights situation in Ukraine, accused the acts of looting, sexual offense, and torture committed by the Azov Battalion in the Donbas region of violating international human rights law. The remark by former Ambassador Sumi is inconsistent with your statement and the UNHCR’s report. Is the view of Mr. Sumi MOFA’s official view? If not, please clarify MOFA’s official view on this matter. Thank you.

Minister Hayashi: Firstly, the fact that Russia dispatched its armed forces into Ukrainian territory without Ukraine’s consent and conducted military actions constitute illegal use of force forbidden by Article 24(4) of the United Nations Charter, and it is a serious violation of international law.

The recent Russian aggression against Ukraine is an attempt of a unilateral change of the status quo by force and shakes the very foundations of the international order. Regardless of the reasons for Russia’s action, this is clearly a violation of international law and totally unacceptable and Japan strongly condemns it.

Japan takes it very seriously that there have been many civilian casualties in Ukraine.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) states that “genocide” means the act of killing and other acts “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” It is necessary to confirm the situation in the place in question to identify whether or not genocide was actually committed, and I cannot say anything definite at this point. However, we are carefully following the investigation being conducted by the prosecutor of the ICC and the development of the situation. Japan has also referred the case to the ICC.

I am aware that the former Ambassador Sumi made remarks about the situation in eastern Ukraine based on his own experience that there had been no genocide committed by the Ukrainian side.

In any event, the recent Russian aggression against Ukraine is an attempt of a unilateral change of the status quo by force and shakes the very foundations of the international order. Regardless of the reasons for Russia’s action, this is clearly a violation of international law and totally unacceptable, and Japan strongly condemns it.

Just now, I mentioned “Article 24 of the United Nations Charter,” but I made a mistake, and I would like to correct it to “Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter.”

TV Asahi, Sawai: I would like to ask about the change of the transliteration of Ukraine’s capital from Kiev to Kyiv. On March 31, the Government of Japan officially announced that the names of the places in Ukraine would be transliterated based on Ukrainian. Accordingly, some names of the places that have been widely used and accepted to a considerable extent will also change, such as Chernobyl.

President Zelenskyy expressed on Twitter his gratitude for Japan’s response. Please elaborate on the background and significance of this change.

Minister Hayashi: In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Government of Japan has been discussing from various perspectives on assistance for Ukraine and actions to show further solidarity with Ukraine. During this period of discussions, we received opinions from various parties suggesting that the capital of Ukraine be transliterated based on Ukrainian instead of Russian.

Building on these views and opinions, we asked the Government of Ukraine about their intention regarding the appropriate names of the places in Ukraine. Then, in accordance with the recent answer from the Ukrainian side, we decided to change the transliteration of the capital of Ukraine from Kiev, which is a transliteration based on Russian, to Kyiv, which is based on Ukrainian.

The Government of Japan has also decided to similarly change the transliteration of the names of the places other than the capital to Ukrainian-based names. Some of the examples are Chernobyl to Chornobyl, Odessa to Odesa, and Dniepr to Dnipro.

Asahi Shimbun, Nohira: I would like to ask about the nuclear testing by North Korea. According to some news reports in the United States, North Korea may be preparing for underground nuclear testing. Are the Government of Japan or you aware of such information? Furthermore, in tandem with the ICBM launch in January 2022, North Korea implied its plan to resume nuclear testing. Please tell us your views on the possibility that North Korea will decide to resume nuclear testing in the near future?

Minister Hayashi: I am aware of the news reports that you have just mentioned, but I would like to refrain from commenting on every action as the Government of Japan.

In addition, I would like to refrain from speculating about North Korea’s future movements. The Government of Japan conducts information gathering and analysis of North Korea’s movements regarding the development of nuclear weapons and missiles with serious concern. We will continue to monitor the situation and exert all efforts to ensure that information gathering as well as monitoring and surveillance activities be carried out properly. At the same time, we will continue to maintain close Japan-U.S. cooperation and Japan-U.S.-ROK cooperation for the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

Sankei Shimbun, Chiba: Regarding North Korea, the additional sanction announced at the beginning of this press conference includes Russian entities and individuals. Could you tell us the view of the Government of Japan on Russia’s involvement as a nation or support for the development of missiles by North Korea?

Minister Hayashi: In the recent sanction measures, the Government of Japan designated entities and individuals that are involved in the development of nuclear weapons and missiles banned by the United Nations Security Council Resolution on North Korea and added them to the list of asset freeze measures.

Of the four entities and nine individuals additionally designated this time to be subject to asset freeze measures, four entities and three individuals are Russian, while six individuals are North Korean.