Press Conferences

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida: On April 4, in a cabinet meeting, it was decided that President Barack Obama of the United States will be visiting Japan as a State Guest. He is scheduled to arrive in Japan on the evening of April 23, and therefore his State Visit will be from the evening of April 23 through the morning of April 25.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: Since President Obama's arrival will be on the evening of April 23 as you mentioned, does this mean that a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be taking place?

Minister Kishida: The arrival on the evening of April 23 has been announced, but final adjustments are still being made to the times. President Obama will not only be visiting Japan, but also the Republic of Korea (ROK), Malaysia, and the Philippines have announced only the dates. As for Japan, only the arrival on the evening of April 23 has been announced, and I have heard that final adjustments are currently being made to the specific times. Therefore, no concrete schedules have been decided yet for the evening of April 23.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: Concerning Ukraine, pro-Russia activists are occupying government buildings and so forth in the eastern part of the country, and meanwhile the provisional government side is not ruling out removing them by force. What is your view of this situation?

Minister Kishida: I have been observing the situation in Ukraine with deep concern. In any case, as I have been saying up to now, I believe that sovereignty and territorial integrity in Ukraine must be thoroughly respected. I think that all of the various parties need to exercise restraint, take responsibility, and respond to the situation cautiously, and I call for them to settle the situation in a peaceful manner.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: There have been reports that between Japan and the DPRK, Mr. Keiichi Ono, Director, Northeast Asia Division, engaged in unofficial meetings on April 12 and 13 in Dalian, China, and that officials discussed matters with the DPRK side, such as the reinvestigation of abductions. Is this true?

Minister Kishida: I am aware that various reports have come out mentioning unofficial consultations on April 4 and 5, or April 12 and 13, but as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have absolutely no knowledge regarding the facts on such matters.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: Previously when reports mentioned consultations on April 5 and 6, you denied that they were true. How about this time?

Minister Kishida: They are not true. It is the same thing. I do not know anything about such consultations. It is the same.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: As for official government-level consultations, I believe that the next round of discussions between the governments has been agreed upon. Do you have an idea of when these consultations will be held? There are some reports that they will be held before the end of this month.

Minister Kishida: With regard to the Japan-DPRK government-level consultations that were resumed at the end of March, it has definitely been affirmed that the consultations will be continued. But I believe that the discussions only ended with a decision to hold the consultations again. Regarding the specific schedule, I have still not heard about any reports saying that specific schedule adjustments have been decided.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: I believe that the family members of the abductions victims and the Government of Japan would like to see this issue quickly resolved. In light of this, is it your intention to hold the discussions as soon as possible?

Minister Kishida: I believe that we must thoroughly take up Japan's matters of interest, including the adductions issue, missile development, nuclear development, and other concerns. I am aware that among these issues, the abductions issue is a matter of great importance.

I strongly believe that Japan must call for a positive response from North Korea and seek to resolve issues as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, the other side must be taken into consideration. The talks will not move forward unless a specific schedule has been decided, so on behalf of Japan I intend to work hard to thoroughly make schedule adjustments and address other matters.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: Tomorrow Mr. Junichi Ihara, Director-General, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, will be visiting the ROK in order to engage in Japan-ROK director-general level talks. In terms of issues, I believe that the so-called comfort women issue will be taken up and that between Japan and the ROK, the Japan side's stance is that this issue has been resolved. Nevertheless, it seems that there is a significant difference of opinion between Japan the ROK, and that the ROK side is calling for further concrete actions to be taken. How does the Government of Japan intend to handle this matter with a view toward building a relationship of trust between Japan and the ROK?

Minister Kishida: First and as was pointed out, tomorrow we will hold director-general-level talks with the ROK based on the attitude that we will have thorough consultations and communications on various issues at every level between Japan and the ROK. Within the first round of talks, I am aware that the comfort women issue, the ROK's strong request for discussion, will be taken up. I think that going forward, we would like to come to communicate thoroughly and Japan will make its respective positions clear on a variety of issues, and for those that we are able to cooperate, we will build a relationship of trust while cooperating with the ROK for those that we are able to cooperate. I intend to t make this result in a thorough communication at the highest political level.

Lee, Hong Kong Phoenix TV: I would like to ask about the pamphlet on the Senkaku Islands. Yesterday, it was posted on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' homepage and within it, for example, with regards to the "shelving" of the Senkaku issue, what stood out was that the content of the pamphlet was more forceful than before, saying that Japan has never agreed with the unilateral comments made by China. How do you see this pamphlet? Also, please share the objectives and the public relations strategy for Senkaku that you will conduct in the future.

Minister Kishida: Your point is that the content is more forceful than before, but Japan's position up to the present time has not changed at all. We have consistently explained our position, including the point that you mentioned, and I see the pamphlet as explaining our position once again in a way in which people can understand more easily. We will continue to conduct a comprehensible and effective public relations strategy in the future.

Lee, Hong Kong Phoenix TV: Going forward, what kind of public relations strategy for the Senkaku Islands will you be aiming to implement?

Minister Kishida: First, we will make Japan's position and thinking on this issue clear, communicate this message to both domestic and international audiences, and request the understanding of these audiences. I believe it is important that we firmly conduct public relations through a variety of methods to communicate our fundamental position.

Suzuki, Mainichi Shimbun: I would like to confirm one point regarding the schedule of President Obama's visit to Japan. Would it be correct to say that the decision made at the cabinet meeting on April 4 remains as it is, and that today you announced an extension of the existing schedule?

Minister Kishida: Up to now we have taken such a procedure for a state visit. I recognize that I have made a report.