Press Conferences

Yamamoto, TBS: At the Japan-North Korea Government-level consultations in Stockholm, it was announced that a thorough reinvestigation into the abductions issue will be reopened. As Foreign Minister, how do you evaluate this?

Minister Kishida: This time at the Japan-North Korea government-level consultations, the North Korean side promised to conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation into all the Japanese people concerned, including victims of abduction and missing people whose possibility of being abducted cannot be ruled out, the remains and gravesites of Japanese people who died in the North Korea region around 1945, Japanese nationals left in North Korea, and so-called Japanese spouses.

It was also confirmed in writing that a special investigation committee will be set up for the purposes of this investigation. I believe it is highly significant that we were able to confirm mutual intent, in a written format, regarding the actions and measures that should be taken, including concrete measures such as this. I believe that this is an important step toward resolving outstanding issues of concern between Japan and North Korea.

Yamamoto, TBS: The Abe Administration is positioning the resolution of the abductions issue as a top priority, but on the other hand, it is now referring to a comprehensive resolution that includes all the Japanese concerned. There are concerns that undertaking a comprehensive resolution could conversely end up delaying the reinvestigation process. What are your thoughts on that?

Minister Kishida: Comprehensively resolving various concerns such as missile development, nuclear development and the abductions issue is the Government of Japan’s fundamental policy, and there is no change in that. Among others, however, the abductions issue is a challenge that Japan must engage in proactively.

We have just obtained one agreement between Japan and North Korea on all the issues relating to the Japanese people concerned, centering on the abductions issue. So, with this as one important step, we hope to link it to solid results.

Watanabe, NHK: I understand that sanctions will be lifted at the point when North Korea reopens the investigation. I get the impression that both sides are moving quite closer, and that that is because there is some prospect of the investigation producing results. Has any positive conviction been obtained regarding the outlook for the investigation, or the credibility of the special investigation committee?

Minister Kishida: The special investigation committee is being set up for this investigation, and it has been affirmed that by the time the investigation opens, the North Korean side will provide solid confirmation and notification regarding the organization and composition of the committee, and who is in charge of it.

Additionally, as is also written in the document, North Korea is to fully inform the Japanese side about the content of the investigation. With regard to the content, the North Korean side is to fully notify the Japanese side about the organization, composition and person in charge by the time the committee is launched and the investigation begins. And where the investigation is concerned, the North Korean side is to notify the Japanese side as needed. In order that this can be confirmed, relevant persons from the Japanese side will be stationed in North Korea, and meetings with the relevant persons and visits to relevant places will be realized. Additionally, appropriate measures will be taken to share relevant materials with the Japanese side. These matters are stated clearly in the document and have been confirmed.

The fact that these concrete measures have been confirmed in writing this time is an important point. It is my hope that as a result of these mechanisms, the special investigation committee will produce solid outcomes.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: With regard to the lifting of sanctions, some are of the view that it may be premature to lift the sanctions until a substantive reinvestigation has been conducted and definite results are secured. What are your views on this?

Minister Kishida: My answer overlaps with my answer just now. Holding this investigation must be linked to solid outcomes.

Where the special investigation commission is concerned, a firm picture of the organization, composition and person in charge will be clarified by the time the investigation begins, and the content of that investigation will also be shared fully with the Japanese side. These points have been confirmed between the two countries. The measures to be taken by the Government of Japan were considered following the confirmation in writing of these concrete measures.

In any case, I believe it is important that North Korea will respond positively and that there will be concrete accomplishment. The Government of Japan recognizes that this outcome came about because it did its utmost to discuss and negotiate.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: Is it true that ultimately the decision to accept this agreement was taken at yesterday’s relevant ministers’ meeting?

Minister Kishida: A relevant Ministers’ meeting, a four Ministers’ meeting were held. The Government confirmed the decision at the meeting.

Watanabe, NHK: That being the case, in the schedule going forward, I imagine that contacts and exchanges with North Korea will increase in the course of carrying out various tasks. Amid that series of exchanges, will the Japanese side refresh its structure for dealing with North Korea, such as setting up some kind of special team within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a result of this development?

Minister Kishida: At the present point in time, nothing specific has been decided, but I understand that to begin with, we will continue to steadily communicate with the North Korean side via the Embassy in China route. First and foremost, we intend to closely observe the steady progress with the tasks, based on the points that were agreed upon and the points that are in accord. I believe further responses will be decided after we have firmly assessed the state of progress.

Yokoyama, Yomiuri Shimbun: I would like to ask about territorial issues. In the current dispute between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea, to show the cruelty of China, the Vietnamese side has been taking foreign journalists to the actual locations where the situation is occurring, and attempting to communicate the current state of affairs in this way. Do you think Japan might consider and refer to this approach, for example, for taking overseas media to the Senkaku Islands, as part of its public diplomacy efforts?

Minister Kishida: The dispute between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea is a matter of common interest of the international society, and Japan is also closely watching developments. In addition, with regard to your question of how we will respond to the Senkaku Islands issue, we have been striving to make our external audiences understand our position and our response to this issue. In the future, we must constantly communicate our message clearly both to the international society and to the people of Japan, which I take for granted. Going forward, we will continue to consider various methods to achieve this.