Press Conferences

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: I apologize for the slight delay in starting this press conference. I got a little carried away in my discussion with the Mongolian Foreign Minister.

Not only the Mongolian Foreign Minister but also many foreign dignitaries are currently visiting Japan in conjunction with Nikkei’s “FUTURE OF ASIA” forum. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov will also visit Japan from today, June 9, to tomorrow, June 10. Tomorrow, we will hold a Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and a working dinner.

Azerbaijan, which faces the Caspian Sea, is one of the world’s leading producers of oil and natural gas. Japanese companies are currently engaged in oil field development there. In light of the current situation, crude oil has been exported from Azerbaijan to Japan. Furthermore, in the wake of the recent developments in the Middle East, Azerbaijan has provided crucial cooperation in protecting Japanese nationals, including accepting those who evacuated from Iran.

This visit by Minister Bayramov marks the first visit to Japan by an Azerbaijani Foreign Minister in 17 years. For me, this will be my first meeting with Minister Bayramov in five years, since our last telephone meeting.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, I look forward to exchanging extensive views tomorrow on bilateral cooperation, including in the energy sector, as well as on regional affairs in the Middle East, the Caucasus, and the Indo-Pacific.

That concludes my opening remarks.

Asahi Shimbun, MIYAWAKI: At a press conference marking the first anniversary of his inauguration on June 8, President Lee Jae Myung of the ROK mentioned the need to conclude an ACSA with Japan, while also taking a cautious stance. As　Japan and the ROK continue to enjoy a favorable relationship, could you please share your views on what efforts Japan intends to undertake toward concluding an ACSA?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: While nothing has been decided regarding the conclusion of an ACSA with the ROK at this stage, Japan and the ROK share a common understanding of the current severe security environment.

At the Japan-ROK Summit Meeting held in May, the two leaders concurred on the importance of strategic coordination, including security cooperation between Japan and the ROK, as well as among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK.

Furthermore, in light of the current international situation, the two leaders shared a common understanding of the importance of Japan and the ROK taking the initiative in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including by maintaining and strengthening deterrence and response capabilities through the Japan-U.S. Alliance, the U.S.-ROK Alliance, and their strategic coordination.

Based on this shared recognition, Japan intends to continue close communication with the ROK with a view to further advancing Japan-ROK cooperation across various fields, including security.

Kyodo News, ONDA: Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to North Korea for the first time in seven years, and the leaders concurred to further develop the bilateral relationship during the summit meeting. Given this visit follows the U.S.-China summit meeting, North Korea’s denuclearization is believed to have been on the agenda, although Chinese media have not mentioned it so far. Could you please share with us how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs analyzes President Xi’s visit to North Korea?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: We are aware of the President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea and Chinese media reports on the visit, but the Government of Japan would like to refrain from commenting on each of these matters individually.

In any case, the Government of Japan intends to continue closely collecting and analyzing relevant information with great interest regarding the situation surrounding China and North Korea, including China-North Korea relations.

With regard to our approach toward North Korea, we will work closely with the international community, including the U.S. and the ROK, and this includes calling on North Korea to fully implement relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Pan Orient News, Azhari: My question is a little bit of a follow-up to my colleague’s question, but more specifically it’s about a flash point in East Asia. Japan’s three nuclear-armed neighbors are strengthening their ties, as highlighted by the Chinese President’s recent visit to Pyongyang. Currently, Japan seems to be prioritizing sanctions over diplomacy to pressure Russia to withdraw from Ukraine and to force North Korea to dismantle its nuclear and missile programs. So my question is: are your sanctions against Russia and North Korea proving effective in achieving your goals?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: First of all, sanctions, in essence, are not imposed for their own sake. I hope this is understood.

Japan has been coordinating with the international community in implementing sanctions against Russia, with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. While it is difficult to make a general statement about their effectiveness, we believe that the sanctions have had a certain impact on the Russian economy.

However, the point of the sanctions is not to inflict economic damage but to resolve the issues peacefully, and it is toward this end that we are taking these measures in coordination with the international community.

With regard to North Korea, Japan has implemented measures based on relevant UNSC resolutions, as well as its own independent measures. These measures are also aimed at resolving the outstanding issues.