Press Conferences

Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs:

I am very heartbroken that the landslide that struck Province of Enga of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea on May 24 resulted in a large number of casualties and many people are still missing.

I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives, and my sympathies are with their bereaved families. May I pray for the wounded to make the swiftest recovery and the people still missing to be searched and rescued as quickly as possible.

Yesterday, I conveyed a message of condolence to the Government and people of Papua New Guinea.

Japan and Papua New Guinea, as important friends, have always supported each other in times of difficulty. Japan intends to actively provide support as necessary for the earliest recovery and reconstruction of the damaged areas.

That is all from me.

Kyodo News, Nishiyama: I would like to ask about the situation in North Korea. At around 10:43 p.m. yesterday, North Korea attempted to launch a projectile using ballistic missile technology. It is believed that the projectile exploded in mid-air during flight and the launch was unsuccessful. Please share with us the view of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and the responses it will be taking, including the possibility of holding a Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Meeting.

Minister Kamikawa: Yesterday’s launch by North Korea, even if it was for the purpose of satellite launch, constitutes a violation of relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) and is a serious issue concerning the safety of Japanese people. Japan has lodged severe protests to North Korea and strongly condemns the act.

North Korea’s series of actions, including previous repeated launches of ballistic and other missiles, threaten the peace and security of Japan, the region, and the international community.

North Korea has announced plans to launch three more reconnaissance satellites this year, and we expect that it may continue to conduct forced launches for the purpose of satellite launch.

North Korea’s repeated launches of ballistic missiles and others are absolutely unacceptable. Regarding your question about the responses that will be taken, we are communicating with the U.S. and the ROK. In any case, we will continue to work closely together between Japan and the U.S., Japan and the ROK, as well as among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK.

Asahi Shimbun, Matsuyama: MOFA announced yesterday that a Japan-U.S.-ROK Vice Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Washington D.C. in the U.S. this week on June 1, excuse me, May 31, local time. I believe Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Okano will be attending from Japan. What is the significance and objective of this meeting? In addition, it was reported recently that the Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit will be held coinciding with the NATO Summit in July. What arrangements are being made for this meeting?

Minister Kamikawa: First, the Japan-U.S.-ROK Vice Ministers’ Meeting will be held in the U.S. on May 31, and Mr. OKANO Masataka, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to attend. This meeting will be held based on last August’s Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit where the three leaders concurred to further enhance the collaboration among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK through multi-layered discussions.

At the upcoming meeting, vice ministers from the three countries will discuss their close trilateral cooperation, including dealing with North Korea and working together to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” based on the rule of law.

At the Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting I attended this February, the three ministers concurred to accelerate the momentum of the trilateral cooperation. I believe that the Vice Ministers’ Meeting is being held in a very timely manner in continuing with this momentum.

The second question was about a Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit. At the summit last August, the three leaders agreed to hold a trilateral summit at least annually. However, the date of the next meeting and other details have not been decided.

In any case, we intend to continue to strengthen the collaboration among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK at all levels, including among the foreign ministers.

Mainichi Shimbun, Odanaka: I have a question about the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit. The summit was held yesterday for the first time in four and a half years, and a joint declaration was issued. The first half of the joint declaration contains a sentence which reads, “We reaffirmed our commitment […] to an international order based on the rule of law and international law.” It is quite unusual for the term “rule of law” to be included in a document regarding Japan, China, and the ROK. If you have any view about the inclusion of this term, including its significance, could you share it with us?

Minister Kamikawa: As the world is becoming more divided and confrontational, it is an important issue to promote the “rule of law” in the international community for the pursuit of peace, and to realize a safe and secure world.

Based on this view, last year, Japan as the G7 Presidency prepared a message that we will pursue the “rule of law” through observing international law in good faith, including the Charter of the UN, and this message was communicated to the world. I myself have striven to promote the “rule of law” in the international community, including visiting The Hague, “the capital of international law”, this January.

At the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit, we affirmed our commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the UN and to an international order based on the “rule of law” and international law at the leaders’ level. We consider that it is meaningful in expanding the trilateral cooperation and in leading the international community toward cooperation, rather than division and confrontation.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: I would like to ask about treated water. At the meeting held on May 26, Prime Minister Kishida and Premier Li Qiang confirmed the promotion of a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests.” However, China did not agree to repeal its measures to ban imports of aquatic products. According to China, during this meeting, it reiterated its usual claim that “the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea affects the health of all humanity.” Moreover, at the experts’ meetings of the Governments of Japan and China, I understand that China asked for soil investigations around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) and monitoring beyond the sea areas that are being monitored as per the international standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These developments suggest China is not committed to resolving the issue of the discharge of treated water with sincerity. Could you share your thoughts and the progress of these discussions? Please also explain the responses the Government of Japan will be taking.

Minister Kamikawa: At the Japan-China Summit Meeting recently held in Seoul, the two leaders valued the progress made in bilateral working-level communications, including between the relevant experts of the two countries, since the summit meeting in November 2023. In order to resolve the issue, the two leaders decided to accelerate the working-level consultation process, building upon the progress made in the bilateral communications to date. Prime Minister Kishida also reiterated his call for the immediate lifting of import restrictions on Japanese food products by the Chinese side.

We are aware of the reports on China’s requests for soil investigations around FDNPS and marine monitoring. However, the discussions between Japanese and Chinese experts concern our communications with another country, and I would like to refrain from responding about their details.

In any case, Japan will continue to strongly call for calm response from China based on scientific evidence, founded on the decisions made between the two leaders to date.

NHK, Igarashi: I would like to ask about the situation in the Middle East. On May 24, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to implement provisional measures, including immediately halting its offensive in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and maintaining open the Rafah crossing for provision at scale of humanitarian assistance. The Israeli military is nevertheless continuing its offensive. You held a telephone talk with Foreign Minister Katz of Israel yesterday and called on Israel to observe the orders in good faith. Please once again tell us about the view of the Government of Japan and its response going forward.

Minister Kamikawa: The Government of Japan believes that the order of provisional measures of the ICJ, the principal international judicial organ of the UN, is legally binding on the parties to the dispute, and to be observed in good faith.

Japan is seriously concerned about the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza. On the 26th, once again, airstrikes on a refugee camp and other areas in Rafah have reportedly killed numerous civilians. It is truly unbearable that especially women and children have become victims of hostilities and are losing their lives. Japan is opposed to a full-scale military operation in Rafah where a large number of evacuees are concentrated. We call for an immediate ceasefire so that the release of the hostages is realized and a conducive environment for humanitarian assistance activities is ensured in a sustainable manner. In addition, Japan strongly hopes that it will lead to the realization of a sustainable ceasefire.

During my telephone talk with Foreign Minister Katz yesterday, I conveyed this position of the Government of Japan and urged that humanitarian assistance activities, including making use of the Rafah crossing, should not be impeded.

We will persistently and actively continue our diplomatic efforts toward improvement of the humanitarian situation and calming down the situation as soon as possible.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: My question is about political affairs. Mr. SUZUKI Yasutomo was elected in the Shizuoka gubernatorial election held on May 26. You repeatedly visited your home prefecture of Shizuoka to support the candidate endorsed by the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan. Please share with us your thoughts regarding the election results.

Minister Kamikawa: This press conference is a forum for me to respond as foreign minister. Generally speaking, elections, which are the foundation of democracy, are valuable occasions to hear the opinions of the people.

It is difficult to separate diplomacy and domestic affairs. I intend to continue working with a sense of urgency, based on my commitment to conduct diplomacy that is understood and supported by the people by listening to their voices.