Press Conferences

Reporter: The Nuclear Energy Agreement between Japan and the U.S. reached its renewal date yesterday. Could you please tell us your thoughts regarding the perspectives with which you will proceed with discussions and coordination with the United States and within Japan in order to halt this agreement going forward, in the context of the unstable situation you are constantly talking about?

Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs: When the initial period ends, the agreement can be halted if either party gives notice. The Nuclear Energy Agreement forms the foundation of the nuclear energy industry of Japan, so I believe it will be important for Japan to make proper efforts to reduce the large amount of plutonium that it possesses.
Japan is fully complying with the inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), so there is no concern that the plutonium will be misappropriated. However, I believe that Japan should handle this plutonium carefully to avoid attracting the suspicion that it is violating the principle that a country must not possess plutonium for which there is no purpose of use.

Minister Kono: We have been operating under the principle that a country must not possess plutonium for which there is no purpose of use. As Monju has been decommissioned, I think it is natural that there are areas in which a variety of coordination becomes necessary. However, I think that Japan will properly take the steps that it can take in order to strongly maintain the non-proliferation regime while also maintaining this Nuclear Energy Agreement.

Reporter: I have a question related to North Korea. In media reports in the newspapers here and media reports from the U.S. and others there have statements to the effect that North Korea was secretly building and operating an enrichment facility. There are also media reports stating that this issue has been pointed out by Secretary Pompeo as well. Please tell us what explanations you have heard about the current situation of North Korea in your meetings with Secretary Pompeo to date, and your perception of the current situation of North Korea.

Minister Kono: I believe that it is not appropriate to make statements publicly about individual matters. In any case, I believe this is a problem that should be addressed in the U.S.-North Korea denuclearization negotiations.

Reporter: The suspicion that the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration, Keiji Furuya of the Liberal Democratic Party, underreported income from a political funds party has been reported in the media, so the problem of politics and money has emerged once again. How do you feel about this as one member of the Diet?

Minister Kono: Since I am not aware of any details at all, I cannot make any comment on this.

Reporter: It has been pointed out that there is a problem with the Political Funds Control Act, namely that regulations on these parties are weaker than on donations. How do you feel about the form that those kinds of laws should take?

Minister Kono: Since I am not aware of any details at all, I cannot make any comment on this.