Press Conferences

Reporter: I have a question regarding the re-designation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. China’s special envoy returned home yesterday, and the United States reinstated its designation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism on the same day. Please explain your view of the situation.

Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Japan welcomes this action on the basis that it contributes to strengthening pressure amid efforts by the international community to exert more pressure on North Korea.

Reporter: You will be visiting Russia this week from November 23. Please explain any outcomes you may be expecting from discussions with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Minister Kono: The schedule for my visit to Russia is still being coordinated. I expect to exchange views on bilateral issues, the situation in North Korea, and the overall state of economic relations between Japan and Russia.

Reporter: Is the re-designation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism something that the Japanese government lobbied to the United States to do so?

Minister Kono: This was an action by the US Government.

Reporter: I have a question regarding North Korea. China dispatched a special envoy. What is your view on this interaction and the current situation?

Minister Kono: I would like to refrain from commenting as this is an interaction between third-parties China and North Korea. However, Japan intends to thoroughly gather information on the situation.

Reporter: What is your assessment of Japan’s current abilities in gathering information on interactions among third parties, such as interactions between China and North Korea or between the United States and North Korea?

Minister Kono: We have conducted information exchanges through a variety of channels.

Reporter: Regarding the re-designation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, what is likely to be the specific effect and meaning, particularly in light of the existence of various UN Security Council resolutions?

Minister Kono: We expect it to impact the situation in a variety of ways.

Reporter: The effectiveness of the dispatch of a special envoy to North Korea is unclear due to a lack of media coverage around the envoy’s meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-un. In the meantime, the US move to reinstate its designation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism should exert pressure. Nevertheless, how will the situation be resolved? Do you think the various related initiatives are advancing at the same pace?

Minister Kono: I am not aware of any particular correlation between China’s special envoy dispatch and the re-designation.

Reporter: The international community is clearly applying pressure on North Korea. What efforts, if any, are working effectively toward getting North Korea to the negotiating table?

Minister Kono: I think various efforts are working.

Reporter: This is a question about the visit of the Chinese special envoy to North Korea. Please elaborate on any outcomes you anticipate from this visit. Also, regarding North Korea’s missile development activities, how do you think these activities will be influenced by China’s dispatch of this special envoy to North Korea? What outcomes are you anticipating?

Minister Kono: Japan intends to hold in-depth discussions with the Chinese side, and to gather and analyze information.