Press Conferences

Minister Kishida: A substantial relaxation of multiple visas for Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam will commence from today. In addition to the relaxation of visa issuance requirements -and the extension of the period of validity for up to five years, it will become possible to apply at all diplomatic missions.

Furthermore, in November the application procedure for single tourism visas for participants of package tours will be simplified. Visa exemptions based on a system of preregistering e-passports to diplomatic missions is scheduled to begin from December 1 for nationals of Indonesia.

These measures are expected to contribute to promoting Japan as a tourism-oriented country with the higher goal of attracting 20 million foreign visitors, advancing the growth strategy as well as promoting people-to-people exchanges.

Kurihara, NHK: Yesterday Japan-North Korea talks were held in Shenyang in connection with North Korea’s abductions issue. Have you received a report of any kind regarding this?

Minister Kishida: On September 29 a meeting of Japanese and North Korean diplomatic officials was held in Shenyang, China. The Japanese side was represented by Junichi Ihara, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, and the North Korean side was represented by Ambassador Song Il Ho, of North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the middle of this month North Korea indicated that it would not be possible to undertake an explanation that goes beyond the initial stage of the investigation, so the meeting was held with the objective of receiving an explanation regarding the current state of the investigation, and I have received a report that over a total period of four and a half hours in the morning and afternoon of September 29, sincere and serious discussions and exchanges took place. The Japanese side strongly urged the North Korean side to promptly undertake a comprehensive and thorough investigation into all the Japanese people concerned, including victims of abduction, and to report those findings promptly. In doing so the Japanese side emphasized that while an investigation in every fields is important, we consider the highest priority issue is the abductions issue. In response to this, Ambassador Song Il Ho said that this meeting was not held to report the findings of the investigation by the Special Investigation Committee, and he gave explanations regarding the fulfillment of the agreement reached in Stockholm in May and about the Special Investigation Committee, to which the Japanese side asked questions. Additionally, at this meeting the Japanese side also raised the nuclear and missile issues, and expressed the strong concerns.

I am scheduled to receive a direct report on the outcomes of this meeting from the delegation after it returns to Japan.

Kurihara, NHK: I understand Director-General Ihara, who participated in the talks, will return to Japan as early as this afternoon, but once you have heard his report how do you intend to respond within the Government?

Minister Kishida: I intend to listen seriously to the delegation’s report, and the report I will confirm the content, and based on that I intend to consider the Government’s response also.

Kurihara, NHK: Is it possible that depending on the circumstances, a meeting of the four ministers concerned or similar event will take place?

Minister Kishida: In any case, I will respond after listening to the delegation’s report. Based on that, I will consider responses.

Kurihara, NHK: Tomorrow, a Japan-ROK strategic dialogue at the vice-ministerial level will be held. I would like to ask the aims of the Government of Japan, and what kind of issues do you want to bring to the table for this dialogue?

Minister Kishida: A Japan-ROK vice-ministerial-level strategic dialogue is scheduled for tomorrow. From Japan, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Akitaka Saiki, and from the ROK, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yong will participate.

During this dialogue, there will be a full and frank exchange of opinions not only on bilateral relations, but also on a variety of other issues, including regional issues like the North Korea issue, and challenges in the international community.

I expect a lively discussion.

Miyasaka, Nikkei Shimbun: Pro-democracy protests in the center of Hong Kong are spreading and the protestors are becoming more active. As Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, from what perspective do you see this development?

Minister Kishida: We are of course paying close attention to the movements in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has a close economic relationship with Japan, and we consider the future of Hong Kong will also affect Japan. We are aware that Hong Kong itself plays a major role for peace, stability, and prosperity not just for China, but for the entire Asia-Pacific region, including Japan.

As has been the case up to the present day, we hope that Hong Kong maintains its free and open system under the one country, two systems structure and also that it maintains its close relationship with Japan.

Matsui, Asahi Shimbun: My question concerns Japan and North Korea. Yesterday, Director General Ihara gave a briefing on-location, but ultimately the reasons for the delay still remained somewhat unclear to me. Can I ask about your thoughts on this?

Minister Kishida: We will receive the report of the delegation. After having received this report, we will thoroughly analyze it and consider our response. But at the current stage, prior to receiving this report, I must refrain from commenting on it.

Nakagawa, Yomiuri Shimbun: In New York on September 26 at a press conference for the ROK media, a high-ranking ROK official commented that with regards to the comfort women issue, while its basic principle is that Japan should take sincere measures no such sincere measures, do not necessarily mean that the Japan-ROK summit meeting will not take place. The reporting by the ROK media is that this may indicate a somewhat more flexible approach than the Government of the ROK has shown in the past. How do you view these comments?

Minister Kishida: We have been exchanging opinions with the ROK on the comfort women issue on a variety of levels, including director general-level discussions.

I believe that through this sort of communication on a variety of levels, we will take a broad, future-orientated perspective on the bilateral relations and we will strive to develop this future-orientated relationship.

Therefore, I consider that we should continue to communicate with this belief.