Press Conferences

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Minoru Kiuchi: Last week I made a working visit to Thailand. One week ago exactly, on October 2, I visited Bangkok in Thailand and held a meeting with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha.

I expressed our intention to further strengthen bilateral relations between Japan and Thailand as well as the expectation that Thailand will make further progress on democratization forward in line with the roadmap on restoring democracy. I also asked that Thailand prepare and improve its investment environment to be transparent and fair, which is important for Japanese companies, and that Thailand make proactive use of Japan’s world-class infrastructure-related technologies. Furthermore, I asked Thailand to promptly lift restrictions on food imports imposed after the Great East Japan Earthquake in connection with radioactive materials, which is an outstanding issue of concern.

Prime Minister Prayuth stated that Thailand intends to move steadily towards democratization while taking into consideration the experiences of foreign countries, including Japan. Additionally, he said Thailand will improve its investment environment to make it fair also to Japanese companies. In addition, concerning the restrictions on food imports, Prime Minister Prayuth said Thailand will lift the restrictions in sequence as they become possible. We also exchanged views on regional affairs, including strengthening our cooperative relationship in ASEAN.

State Minister Kiuchi: I would like to give my views on the indictment without arrest of the former Sankei Shimbun Seoul bureau chief on a defamation charge by the public prosecutor’s office in the ROK, as I assume you will probably have questions on this issue. I think the Chief Cabinet Secretary has probably mentioned this case in his press conference, but the Government of Japan has repeatedly conveyed its concerns to the Government of the ROK, and has asked its cautious handling. The recent indictment without arrest of the former Sankei Shimbun Seoul bureau chief is extremely regrettable from the standpoints of freedom of the press and relations between Japan and the ROK, and we are deeply concerned about the situation.

As a result, today we firmly conveyed to the Korean Government that the indictment of the Seoul bureau chief, despite the Government of Japan repeatedly conveying its concerns to the ROK Government and strongly requesting a cautious handling, is as I said extremely regrettable from the standpoints of freedom of the press and relations between Japan and the ROK, and the situation is deeply concerning.

That is about the issue of the indictment of the former Seoul bureau chief.

Yamamoto, Sankei Shimbun: As you just mentioned, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government are repeatedly describing the situation as extremely regrettable and deeply concerning, but am I correct in understanding that this does not mean a protest?

State Minister Kiuchi: It depends on the definition of protest, but as I just mentioned, the fact is that today Mr. Junichi Ihara, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, firmly stated to Mr. Kim Won Jin, Minister at the Korean Embassy in Japan in quite a strong tone that the incident is extremely regrettable from the standpoints of freedom of the press and relations between Japan and the ROK, and the situation is deeply concerning. Whether or not this amount to a protest depends on the definition of protest, but the fact is we firmly conveyed the Government of Japan’s position to the other side.

Yamamoto, Sankei Shimbun: I would like to confirm again this. For example in the case involving Russia’s military exercises in the Northern Territories, or in the case involving Chinese aircraft coming into contact with and approaching Japanese aircraft in relation to the Air Defense Identification Zone, I think the Government of Japan made protests in those cases, so am I correct in understanding that because the word protest is not being used this time, it does not constitute a protest?

Or is there an intention to lodge a protest but instead used these kinds of expressions out of diplomatic considerations? Could you comment on this, please?

State Minister Kiuchi: I will repeat what I said, and this is my interpretation, but I think there are various definitions of protest, and I think it can be said that the fact is we made a firm demarche in a way that is close to a de facto protest. This is my personal interpretation, but we firmly conveyed that the situation is deeply concerning, in a way that is close to a de facto protest, and irrespective of whether or not this is a protest, my personal view is that it is close to a de facto protest. However, whether this is the Government of Japan’s view or not is something I am not able to comment on from my position.

Matsui, Asahi Shimbun: It has not been labeled as a protest despite the fact that it is de facto a protest. Is it because at the current time, relations with the ROK are on the way to being improved? What are your thoughts on this?

State Minister Kiuchi: I will be repeating myself, but what protest means depends on the definition of protest. We have firmly conveyed to the Government of the ROK that this situation is extremely regrettable and the situation is deeply concerning. Moreover, the Chief Cabinet Secretary himself stated at his press conference that it greatly deviates from the common sense of international society. So leaving aside whether or not you define it as a protest, I think absolutely nothing has changed from the fact that we have firmly conveyed to the ROK side using a fairly strong tone that we consider this situation to be extremely regrettable.

Matsui, Asahi Shimbun: In the démarche made by the director-general to the ROK minister, for instance, the former bureau chief is banned from leaving the ROK for a long time, so from this example, has there been some specific request from the Government of Japan regarding his ban from leaving the country, such as that his passport be returned to allow him to return to Japan?

State Minister Kiuchi: I must refrain from commenting on the specific details of the communication at this stage.

Ito, Kyodo News: The ROK side stated that they will report Japan’s position to the ROK, but could you tell us a little more about what the Korean side said?

State Minister Kiuchi: My understanding is that the ROK side has responded that it is accurately reporting to Seoul what the Japanese side conveyed to the Korean side. They also responded that the prosecutor’s office in the ROK took steps after advancing its investigation that has been based on laws and principles and that this incident is unrelated to Japan-ROK bilateral relations.

I am simply informing you what was said by the other party.

Matsui, Asahi Shimbun: If the indictment is unrelated to the bilateral relations as they say, do they say anything about ROK’s desire to improve Japan-ROK relations in the future?

State Minister Kiuchi: I’m not really aware of that, but I think what they meant is that this case pertains to the law and that ultimately it is unrelated to Japan-ROK relations as it is based on the administration of justice, of principles and legal prosecution, specifically the law relating to libel, and that the same measures would have been taken whether it was a citizen of Japan or any other country. This is what they meant. Of course, it is not possible for us to simply accept these comments, but at the moment I am simply communicating to you the response from the ROK side.

Matsui, Asahi Shimbun: The impact that this case will have on Japan-ROK relations is worrisome. What’s your take on this?

State Minister Kiuchi: In any case, as I have stated repeatedly, it is extremely regrettable and we are deeply concerned about the situation, not only from the standpoint of Japan-ROK relations but also from the standpoint of freedom of the press, a universal value. We will continue to appropriately communicate the position of Japan to the ROK. While there are difficult issues between the two countries, our position of making steady efforts to maintain Japan-ROK communications remains unchanged.

Fukuoka, Mainichi Shimbun: When you say that the request was in effect a firm protest…

State Minister Kiuchi: That’s just my interpretation.

Fukuoka, Mainichi Shimbun: But the fact that such wording was used – does it mean that as this is a judicial matter, there is nothing that the Government can do?

State Minister Kiuchi: Of course, the ROK has said that this is a judicial issue. But this is also a matter that concerns freedom of the press or, in a sense, human rights. I don’t think at all that this is necessarily a matter to be decided by the ROK judiciary and that it is inappropriate for Japan to make a strong request in one way or another. Human rights and freedom of the press are universal values without national borders, and I don’t think Japan is interfering in the ROK’s internal affairs, should such argument arises.

Fukuoka, Mainichi Shimbun: I get the impression that Japan is not lodging a very strong protest, that Japan has slightly softened. In other words, this is a judicial matter so the ROK…

State Minister Kiuchi: That is not necessarily the case. I have stated clearly that the matter is extremely regrettable from the standpoint of Japan-ROK relations. The Government of Japan considers this extremely regrettable, and furthermore, deeply concerning, not only from the standpoint of freedom of the press but also from the standpoint of Japan-ROK relations. For example, when making a strong request to ROOK, Japan did not say that it was closely following the situation, but it said that it is deeply concerned about the situation. Therefore, I think this is not as you pointed out.

Matsui, Asahi Shimbun: I believe Japan had been expressing its wish to the ROK to hold a summit meeting during the series of diplomatic meetings in autumn. For example, Prime Minister Abe entrusted a personal letter to former Prime Minister Mori and had it delivered to President Park Geun-hye. Has the indictment resulted in any change in Japan’s wish to hold a summit meeting?

State Minister Kiuchi: A short while ago, I explained the position of the Japanese Government regarding the matter involving the former Seoul Bureau Chief of Sankei Shimbun. Apart from this matter, there are various difficult issues between Japan and the ROK, but that does not mean that Japan will change its position of keeping its door for dialogue open and suspend the ongoing dialogues at various levels. Japan’s door for dialogue remains open. Vice-ministerial talks were held recently, and we will continue to hold dialogues at various levels. This remains unchanged.

That is not to suggest that this is the end of this matter. The Japanese Government’s position that Japan considers deeply regrettable and deeply concerned from the standpoints of Japan-ROK relations and freedom of the press remains unchanged, and we will continue to appropriately and fully communicate our position to the ROK Government.

Ito, Kyodo News: To confirm, is my understanding correct that Japan will be raising this matter with the ROK at future high-level dialogues and other meetings?

State Minister Kiuchi: My understanding is that Japan will comprehensively take into consideration the circumstances of the moment, but not touching upon this issue is not an option. Of course the possibility cannot be eliminated that Japan will raise this matter as one of the issues between the two countries, based on the circumstances of the moment. That is my understanding.

Ichinose, Kyodo News: I have a question regarding Russia. Recently, President Putin and Prime Minister Abe made birthday telephone calls to each other and agreed to aim for a Japan-Russia summit meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in November. In addition, there are reports that the two leaders will hold informal talks during the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) this month. What do you think about these bilateral developments which are taking place in parallel with Japan’s moves to keep in step with the G7 vis-à-vis the sanctions over the Ukraine issue? Can you also give us your outlook on future prospects?

State Minister Kiuchi: As you just noted, during the birthday telephone talks, communication was made about making arrangements for the holding of a summit meeting at the time of APEC in Beijing in November. At the same time, it is possible that the two leaders may hold informal talks of some kind during the ASEM summit on October 16 and 17. In any case, Prime Minister Abe and President Putin will naturally continue to take such opportunities to hold discussions on the variety of issues between Japan and Russia.

Yamazaki, NHK: I would like to ask about the abductions issue. There was an approach from the North Korean side suggesting that if the Japanese side travels to Pyongyang then the North Korean side will explain the current state of the investigation in more detail, and I understand that the Government of Japan is considering its response. You have been involved in the abductions issue even before you were appointed as State Minister, and I would like to ask what your views are as State Minister on the pros and cons of going to Pyongyang at this time, and furthermore as a Diet member who has been involved in this issue for a long time, what the advantages are.

State Minister Kiuchi: You mentioned advantages and disadvantages just now, but where the response is concerned, as you accurately pointed out there are advantages and disadvantages and I believe the Government as a whole will make comprehensive consideration, from the standpoint of moving the investigation forward while listening carefully to the views of all those concerned, including the families of the victims of abduction. At the present point in time nothing is decided.

Matsui, Asahi Shimbun: My question concerns this abductions issue, but there have been calls from the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea and the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea, among others, for the Government to make a firm response, and it appears as though many are voicing skepticism over dispatching a delegation to Pyongyang. How do you intend to seek the understanding of these individuals in the future?

State Minister Kiuchi: Nothing has been decided yet, including the issue of seeking understanding. We will listen carefully to the views of the families of victims of abduction, and simultaneously, depending on the circumstances a Liaison Council of Ruling and Opposition Parties Institutions for Measures against Abduction Issue may be set up to hear views, and various views will be comprehensively taken into consideration in reaching a final decision. However, at the present point in time nothing is decided.

Matsui, Asahi Shimbun: Regarding the timing of the decision, for example I understand that the Government will seek the views of the Association of the Families of Victims next week, but am I correct in assuming that the final decision on dispatching a delegation will not come until it has been discussed at the Liaison Council of Ruling and Opposition Parties?

State Minister Kiuchi: I think so. This is not something that can be decided without the understanding of the families and without listening to various views and securing the understanding of all the parties concerned, and so your assumption is correct, I believe.