Press Conferences

NHK, Yamamoto: I would like to ask two questions about Japan-ROK relations. The first is that tomorrow marks one year since the ruling by the Supreme Court of the ROK ordering Japanese companies to pay compensation.

Japan-ROK relations have kept worsening over the past one year, so I would like to ask again for your recognition of the current situation. Also, there are some reports that consideration has begun for a draft agreement between Japan and the ROK concerning the issue of former civilian workers from the Korean Peninsula. It is being said that a fund for economic cooperation will be found wherein Japanese companies will also participate. Can you please tell us if that is true?

Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Firstly, the reports you mentioned in your second question are not true.

That said, regarding the developments over the past year, as I have repeated, the two governments of Japan and the ROK have confirmed the policy of maintaining communication between not only foreign ministers but also diplomatic authorities, and there is no change to that intention.

Based on the shared recognition between our two countries that we should build future-oriented Japan-ROK relations, we will continue to strongly urge the ROK side to immediately remedy its breach of international law.

NHK, Watanabe: I would like to ask about Japan-Russia relations. If it will take place as planned, the experimental sightseeing tour to the Four Northern Territories will depart from Nemuro this afternoon. What is your reaction to this? Also, this time it is an experimental tour implemented within the existing framework of visa-free exchanges, but a new framework would be created acceptable to both countries in order to fully proceed joint economic activities going forward. Can you please tell us about your hope for establishing this framework, and what kind of negotiations you would like to advance?

Minister Motegi: The actual pilot project will be implemented from tomorrow. The pilot project will experimentally start development of tours compatible with the islands’ features, which is one of the publicized projects of the joint economic activities agreed upon between the leaders of Japan and Russia. Based on the idea of leading to the resolution of the Northern Territories issue and concluding a peace treaty through initiatives toward realizing the joint economic activities, discussions are being advanced over the joint economic activities with Russia. Meanwhile, pilot projects of the joint economic activities are being carried out, and this tour is a part of them. Once this tour is over, we would like to listen to candid views from participants, review how the pilot project was implemented and bring into light related issues in order to make it lead to full implementation of projects. I would like to advance initiatives toward further realizing projects in order to steadily develop the agreement between the leaders of Japan and Russia in December 2016, resolve the territorial issue and conclude a peace treaty going forward.

Nikkei Shimbun, Kato: With regard to Japan-ROK relations, you stated earlier that it is not true that a fund for economic cooperation will be created. Nevertheless, I believe various discussions will be held, but is it correct to understand that no additional burden will be placed on Japanese companies even under the title of economic cooperation?

Minister Motegi: It is difficult to give definitive answers to hypothetical questions. In any event, I believe it is now necessary for the ROK side to immediately remedy its breach of international law, and consider what response to take, so we would like to monitor such developments as well as the response of the ROK going forward.

Asahi Shimbun, Ota: I apologize for being repetitive, but with regard to Japan-ROK relations, you have repeated that you would request the ROK to remedy its breach of international law. Prime Minister Abe have also equally and repeatedly requested the ROK to remedy the breach of international law during his recent meeting with Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon. Asking again, is it correct to understand that the ball is in the ROK’s court now?

Minister Motegi: Yes.

Asahi Shimbun, Ota: I would like to ask another related question. If the assets of Japanese companies are to be realized, what options are you considering now as responses?

Minister Motegi: Rather than thinking about a case of realization of assets, I believe such realization must not occur. In case such an event will take place, Japan-ROK relations would reach an even more serious state, and I have clearly conveyed that to Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.

Asahi Shimbun, Fujita: I would like to ask about information disclosure by MOFA. We reported that regarding disclosure requests for Japan-U.S. relations-related documents made by our company and other journalists in 2017, two cases were observed where MOFA made a decision not to disclose documents with the same content that have been disclosed by MOFA since 2010. Can you please tell us your perception of the issue, including its background, and what response is necessary to prevent its recurrence?

Minister Motegi: With regard to the information disclosure requests in 2017, MOFA rendered the disclosure decision after careful considerations conducted with limited time and human resources back then. Under the legal system including the Act on Access to Information Held by Administrative Organs , disclosure decisions are made after an individual examination of disclosure requests upon their reception. I have received a report that in the two cases you mentioned, documents with the same content had already been disclosed before, and in that sense, in part, there was inconsistency in the response. Based on these cases, MOFA will firmly respond going forward in accordance with related legislation such as the Act on Access to Information Held by Administrative Organs. On April 1, 2019, MOFA newly established the post of Chief Record Officer at the deputy assistant minister level who is in charge of official records management, information disclosure and others, as well as the Records Management Division to assist the Officer. Based on such initiatives, we would like to ensure an effective check function.

Asahi Shimbun, Fujita: Although this matter took place before you became Minister for Foreign Affairs, the decision of non-disclosure was delivered in the form of a document under the Minister’s name. What I would like to ask you is, if an information disclosure request is submitted now to MOFA, whether you can confidently say that the decision made in your name for the disclosure request, upon sharing the information that was disclosed in the past, does not improperly expand the scope of non-disclosure of information?

Minister Motegi: As I said earlier, each disclosure request is examined separately. Rather than having AI or similar tools process previously-decided matters in all cases, since each individual case is different, I believe separate examinations have to be carried out. Additionally, when handling information disclosure requests, documents disclosed previously are to be disclosed through verification of diplomatic records disclosure history and past disclosure decisions, and I would like to thoroughly assure the implementation of this system.

TV Asahi, Oishi: I would like to change the subject. There are reports that Dr. OGATA Sadako, who worked as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has passed away. Can you please tell us if MOFA is aware of this?

Minister Motegi: At present, it has not been confirmed.

Kyodo News, Takao: I would like to ask about the response to North Korea’s missiles and Japan-U.S. cooperation. During the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives last week on October 23, regarding President Trump’s statement that he does not view North Korea’s short-range ballistic missiles as a problem, you stated that you understand that President Trump’s statement was made in the communication based on the relationship of mutual trust between the leaders of the United States and North Korea. On the other hand, the diplomatic authorities of Japan and the United States have confirmed repeatedly that all missiles of North Korea violate the United Nations Security Council Resolutions. I think that President Trump’s statement can be considered to be inconsistent with the Security Council Resolutions, so as my first question, what is your view on this? Also, what is your recognition of whether North Korea’s short-range ballistic missiles are still on the table in the negotiations between the United States and North Korea?

Minister Motegi: Regarding your first question, the answer is the same as my answer in the Diet. That said, it is clear that North Korea’s ballistic missiles of all ranges violate the United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and this position has been confirmed at successive opportunities such as the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting during the recent G7 Summit as well as the Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk. Japan will continue to urge the full implementation of the Security Council Resolutions, while closely cooperating with the United States.