Press Conferences

Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida: As a result of the adjustments that had been taking place via the “embassies” in Beijing route concerning the next Japan-North Korea Government-level consultations, the consultations are to be held in Beijing, China on July 1.

The Japanese side will be represented by Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Junichi Ihara, and the North Korean side Ambassador Song Il Ho of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At these consultations we are scheduled to receive an explanation from the North Korean side regarding the Special Investigation Committee, including the organization, composition and the person in charge. The Government of Japan believes that it will be important for the Special Investigation Committee to be appropriately granted the authority to be able to carry out an investigation covering all organizations, and to actually commence an investigation based on that authority. We intend to firmly assess the details of the explanation from the North Korean side in these consultations from that standpoint. The Government of Japan will continue to exert the utmost effort to promptly resolve the issues relating to all the Japanese people concerned, including the abductions issue.

Watanabe, NHK: With regard to the announcement you made, which areas of the Special Committee is the Government placing an emphasis on in particular?

Minister Kishida: At these consultations, the North Korean side is to provide notification regarding the organization and composition of the Special Investigation Committee, and who is in charge of it. In the course of that, as I said, I believe that it will be important for the Committee to be appropriately granted the full authority to carry out an investigation covering all organizations. We intend to firmly assess this point.

Watanabe, NHK: That being the case, I imagine that subsequently there will also be the option of lifting sanctions, but at what stage, and following the confirmation of what matters, will the sanctions be lifted?

Minister Kishida: As I just said, after we have confirmed that the Committee has been solidly granted authority, is organized and composed appropriately and that the person in charge has been robustly selected, I think once the Government of Japan has firmly assessed those points, it will consider lifting the Government’s sanctions and other matters.

Watanabe, NHK: That being the case, once the lineup of the Special Investigation Committee has been presented, what are your thoughts regarding the timing up to the lifting of sanctions? Will the matter be brought back to Japan?

Minister Kishida: The consultations will take place from here on, and I do not feel that it is appropriate to try to make predictions about that content prior to the consultations. I believe it is important to listen carefully to the North Korean side’s explanation, and then for the Government of Japan to assess that explanation firmly.

Fukuoka, Mainichi Shimbun: I expect it will be extremely difficult to confirm that the Committee has the authority to carry out an investigation covering all organizations. In what way do you intend to approach and confirm that?

Minister Kishida: I would like to refrain from announcing the content and specific points of that confirmation at the present stage because it would mean revealing the Government of Japan’s responses and plans. The organization, composition and person in charge are to be presented this time. I believe that the Government will make a decision after it has listened carefully to that explanation and firmly assessed the explanation in its entirety.

Yamazaki, Fuji TV: The consultations will commence on July 1, but how long are they scheduled to be held?

Minister Kishida: They will be held in Beijing on July 1.

Yamazaki, Fuji TV: For one day?

Minister Kishida: That is what has been confirmed by both sides.

Watanabe, NHK: If that is so, I imagine that the schedule will be quite limited, given that it is one day. Will the response from the North Korean side be ascertained to a certain extent in advance, with the consultations to then take place based on that? Or will it be made clear for the first time at the consultations?

Minister Kishida: It will be presented at these consultations. The agenda and its substance to be discussed at these consultations will quite simply be the Special Committee’s organization, composition and who is in charge of it, and its authority. That is what I understand.

Torinari, Kyodo Press: What sort of time span is the Japanese side currently thinking between confirming the Committee’s organization and composition, and lifting sanctions?

Minister Kishida: At present we are still unable to predict what sort of explanation will take place at these consultations. Consequently, for the time being we will closely observe the explanation by the North Korean side and evaluate it. I think that will be the first step. We intend to firmly consider our response based on that.

Watanabe, NHK: That being the case, regarding the timing of that evaluation judgment once North Korea has responded, what does the Government of Japan intend to do if it concludes that the response is insufficient in terms of what Japan has in mind?

Minister Kishida: The fact is that the consultations will take place from here on. We will receive an explanation from the North Korean side. I would like to refrain from saying something in advance about that content at the present stage.

Watanabe, NHK: I imagine that the families and relatives of the abduction victims are watching this process very carefully. Once again, what are your thoughts on the efforts to resolve this problem?

Minister Kishida: That an agreement has now been reached between Japan and North Korea and that both sides have reached on setting up a Special Investigation Committee are one important step, I believe. However, from here forward, it will be important that this special investigation Committee be made solidly effective and that its effectiveness be guaranteed. The Government of Japan believes that it must do everything it can to encourage the investigation by the special investigation Committee to move forward, by all means, and to steadily extract positive actions from the North Korean side. We believe we must make a full, Government-wide effort to ensure solid results are achieved without fail.

Matsui, Asahi Shimbun: The Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea and the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea are suggesting that in the interests of generating results, it will be lenient to lift three sanctions at once accompanying the commencement of the investigation. What are your thoughts on that?

Minister Kishida: To begin with, based on the agreement, I think it will be important to listen carefully to the North Korean side’s explanation of the Special Investigation Committee’s organization, composition and who is in charge, and for the investigation to actually begin. And as the investigation progresses, the Government of Japan understands it will have to make every effort to steadily encourage the investigation so that solid results are achieved. The Government of Japan intends to work to ensure that the investigation that will begin from now on leads to solid results.

Houga, TBS: Regarding the members, aside from the Bureau Director-General from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in his capacity as the head of the Japanese side, which members from other agencies and ministries, such as the National Police Agency and the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, will be present?

Minister Kishida: As I mentioned earlier, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Ihara will represent the Government of Japan, but we are in the process of discussing who else will attend. I hope to confirm the selection of members once those discussions are completed.