Press Conferences

Arita, Nippon TV: One year has passed since the announcement of the agreement in Stockholm. With the one year anniversary on July 4, in a situation where there has been no effective response from the North Korean side, are there any new measures that the Government of Japan can take in the future? Also, what are you seeking from the North Korean side?

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Presently, a specific schedule for the future has not been decided. The standpoint of Japan has not changed, which is that in accordance with the agreement between Japan and North Korea, we require that the investigation be carried out quickly and that its results be reported to us promptly and honestly.

I believe we must continue to study the situation from the perspective of what measures will be effective in order to draw out a positive and tangible attitude from North Korea.

Arita, Nippon TV: Yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga stated that September was being regarded as the cut-off time for the one year anniversary. I would like you to confirm when the starting date for the one year anniversary is.

Minister Kishida: The investigation began last July. The North Korean side then stated it would complete the investigation within one year last September. These are the facts that I am aware of, but nothing has been determined with regards to the specific deadline.

Arita, Nippon TV: So just to confirm, it is not clear whether the starting point for the one year anniversary is July 4 or September?

Minister Kishida: The aforementioned facts are what have been confirmed.

Arita, Nippon TV: There have been reports that the establishment of an anti-terrorism unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is being looked into. Can you tell us the relevant facts, the outline, and the objectives of this unit?

Minister Kishida: In order to strengthen Japan’s capability to gather information on international terrorism, it has been decided to newly establish a unit of international terrorism information collection in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It has been clarified to staff experts in international terrorism, information gathering, or languages in Japanese embassies and consulates which will be centers and to advance measures to strengthen Japan’s information gathering capabilities.

Following the terrorist incident regarding the murder of Japanese in Syria, I believe that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must also firmly pursue such measures to ensure the safety of Japanese abroad in the future.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: I would like to return to the question of North Korea and the investigation period. When Japan lifted sanctions last July, the North Korean side stated that it would begin the investigations in July and complete them within one year, as Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga just stated. So these points had been important elements for deciding to lift sanctions. But can I confirm that in the beginning, the start of the time period for the deadline was not decided on?

Minister Kishida: My understanding is that the investigation began in July, and then subsequently, the North Korean side stated in September that it would complete the investigation within one year. When the investigation began in July, Japan’s response was based on the agreement in Stockholm in May. I believe this was the order of events.

So with regards to the questions of when the one year anniversary is, when the start of the one year period was, and until when the investigation will continue, I understand that North Korea has made remarks about the starting point of the investigation as I just said. I do not recognize that anything more than this is confirmed.