Press Conferences

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: Government officials will be dispatched to Pyongyang from the beginning of next week. I would like to ask again, at the present point in time what outcomes you are expecting?

Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida: The abductions issue is a top priority issue for Japan. To begin with, we must firmly convey it to appropriate responsible people. We must also request firmly that the investigation proceeds quickly and that the results are communicated to us promptly and accurately. We believe it is important to ask the current state of the investigation in the course of doing that and to solidly communicate these things. We will intend to rigorously deliver Japan’s position and views to the other side.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: I would like to ask about the Japanese side’s delegation. I think the previous delegation that was dispatched to Beijing consisted of about seven people, but this time there will be about 10 people. What will the lineup of the delegation be?

Minister Kishida: I have heard there will be a total of around 10 people, consisting of personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, which is the Cabinet Office, as well as the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: What is the aim of the bolstered lineup this time, by which I mean, the larger number of people being dispatched?

Minister Kishida: The Special Investigation Committee that is currently pursuing an investigation is to carry out a comprehensive and extensive investigation into all the issues in which Japanese people are involved. In response to such investigation the Government intends to convey a message to the other side this time with the delegation I just mentioned from the perspective of the Government of Japan as a whole engaging in this issue.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: The Japanese side will convey that the abductions issue is the most important, but on the other hand, there is concern that the North Korean side may report the outcomes of other sectional meetings, which do not deal with the victims of abduction, out of the four sectional meetings. There is also concern that this visit will in reality become the first report. How will these matters be dealt with?

Minister Kishida: This dispatch of a delegation to Pyongyang is aimed to firmly convey Japan’s position and views to an appropriate person. We are not considering the first report and others through this visit to North Korea at all.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: So even if the North Korean side provides information on survivors other than abduction victims, or communicates the numbers and others of surviving Japanese spouses or Japanese residents, that will not constitute a report?

Minister Kishida: That is correct. Japan does not in any way consider that this trip to North Korea will constitute the first report.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: That being the case, does that mean the Japanese side will not implement response measures, such as lifting sanctions, according to the content of the explanation received or something communicated from the North Korean side?

Minister Kishida: As I said earlier, this trip is entirely to deliver Japan’s views to the North Korean side, and above all, to firmly request that the investigation proceeds quickly and the finding are reported to Japan. That is the purpose of this trip.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: Has it been determined yet who will participate in the discussions from the North Korean side?

Minister Kishida: Adjustments are continuing regarding the specific details such as who the delegation will meet. I expect that those adjustments will continue right up to the last minute.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: To completely change the topic, there is the issue of the newly appointed Cabinet member Minister Miyazawa and how he uses his political funds. He is being pursued by opposition parties, media and others over the issue of his ownership of TEPCO stock. As the leader of his political faction, how do you view this issue?

Minister Kishida: I am aware that such a thing has been pointed out. For such an issue, I believe that the individual in question will exercise the responsibility to offer an explanation as a politician. I believe this is something which efforts should be made to explain and gain understanding.

Ichinose, Kyodo Press: Related to the abductions issue, Prime Minister Abe has indicated that the delegation will convey that the abductions issue is a top priority. Within the agreement made in Stockholm in May it was agreed that efforts would be made in each field in parallel. What is your opinion on the consistency of that – that the abduction issue can be a top priority while also working on other issues at the same time?

Minister Kishida: The Special Investigation Committee is proceeding investigations into all issues related to Japanese nationals. Within that, I recognize that it will be crucial for our delegation this time to thoroughly communicate our way of thinking again – that the abduction issue is a top priority.

Nakagawa, Yomiuri Shimbun: Related to that, you said a moment ago that the lineup of ten people will include a member of the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW). I want to ask you, candidly, what role such a person will play.

Minister Kishida: The Special Investigation Committee is investigating all issues related to Japanese nationals. The Government will thoroughly convey Japan’s position and way of thinking to the Special Investigation Committee, and so the delegation is being composed of representatives from the Government as a whole. That includes, as a result of that, the MHLW.

Nakagawa, Yomiuri Shimbun: But specifically what role will they play?

Minister Kishida: They will handle the role of communicating Japan’ position and way of thinking, which I stated a moment ago, to the other side, as a member of the entire Government.

Nakagawa, Yomiuri Shimbun: Are they being included in order to respond if there is some sort of report or explanation on issues related to the remains of Japanese nationals?

Minister Kishida: No. They are included because the delegation is to be composed of members of the entire Government in order to thoroughly communicate Japan’s position and way of thinking.

Yamamoto, Sankei Shimbun: Former ministers Obuchi and Matsushima, and now Minister Miyazawa, have been found one after the other to have used political funds inappropriately. Some are saying that the Government is slack about this sort of thing. What is your opinion on that?

Minister Kishida: I believe that we must thoroughly accept that there have been many things pointed out and criticisms made due to such incidents. I also believe that because we are in the middle of an extraordinary session of the Diet, the Government must be unified and focus on the many important challenges before us.

Yamamoto, Sankei Shimbun: In the wake of this situation, have you checked the way of using your own political funds again, or have you instructed to do so?

Minister Kishida: Regarding my own political funds, I am determined to ceaselessly and thoroughly manage and work on them. My office and others are always working with such a mindset, too.