Press Conferences

Ohtani, NHK: Images of two suspects related to the explosion at the Boston Marathon site were released, and there are possibilities of an early arrest. Will you comment on the fact that this is an act of terror and that the suspects are close to being identified?
 
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida:I am aware of reports on that kind of information. In any case, since investigations are ongoing, we hope to closely monitor the developments.
 
Ohtani, NHK:On the point that it was an act of terror?
 
Minister Kishida:It is our recognition that terrorist acts are absolutely intolerable and despicable. We will closely monitor the developments of investigation in the U.S. with great interest.

Ohtani, NHK:North Korea issued a statement yesterday, calling for the easing of sanctions and discontinuation of military exercises as their conditions for dialogue. As a member of the international community, how will Japan respond to this statement?
 
Minister Kishida:First of all, it is extremely regrettable that North Korea is repeating provocative words and actions. I believe it is critical that North Korea firstly and clearly shows their sincere attitude toward the international community, including a move to denuclearization. I believe that Japan, in coordination with the international community, must send a strong message to North Korea as well as firmly calling on them to show a positive attitude.

Ohtani, NHK:As the prospects for the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit remains unclear, there are even some reports that the plan for a May summit has been relinquished. What is the current outlook, and as there are reports of a possible visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea to Japan, what topics will be discussed?
 
Minister Kishida:Firstly on the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit, coordination are currently underway with this year’s chair ROK playing the central role. The date has not been determined yet and the scheduling is currently in process.
 
As for the meeting with the ROK Foreign Minister, through our telephone conferences among others, Japan and the ROK have confirmed our common understanding of the importance of steady communications. Japan has also invited the new Foreign Minister to visit Japan at his earliest convenience. However, no specific schedule has been finalized for his visit at this point.

Yamagishi, Asahi Shimbun:I would like to ask you about the realignment of U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ). The U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services has compiled a report, proposing that the funds set aside to transfer U.S. Marines to Guam should be frozen as the transfer of Futenma Air Station is currently not making progress. What is your response to this?
 
Minister Kishida:The transfer of U.S. Marines to Guam will be implemented based on the existing bilateral agreement. I have also emphasized the significance of the transfer of U.S. Marines to Guam during my recent meeting with US State Secretary John Kerry.
 
I believe deliberations on the fiscal 2014 budget will proceed in the U.S. Congress and we will be paying close attention to the deliberations process. Japan will work closely with the U.S. so that the transfer to Guam will be implemented based on the existing bilateral agreement.