Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER:I have a question concerning electricity supply and demand during the winter months. As the Energy and Environment Council is scheduled to meet next week, in this meeting is the Government intending to assess the current status of considerations concerning the targets for power-saving measures this winter and how long they will be implemented for?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:There have been some press reports that the situation is expected to be severe in the service areas of Kansai Electric Power Company and Kyushu Electric Power Company, which have a high ratio of nuclear-powered electricity supply, a situation which was also noted during the summer. Currently the status of supply and demand is being carefully studied and early next week a joint meeting of the Review Meeting on Power Supply and Demand and the Energy and Environment Council will be held, at which it is expected that an action plan to ensure stable energy supply and demand will be decided, including stable supply and demand measures for both this winter and summer next year.

(Abridged)

REPORTER:With regard to the football match between Japan and North Korea there are media reports that the Government has decided on a policy to partially lift the request to refrain from travel to North Korea. What are the facts behind this matter and what is the current status of considerations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:As you are aware, in general, as part of the Government's measures against North Korea, the current situation is that we request people to refrain from travel to North Korea. Given that the World Cup qualification third round match is an important game, the Government seeks to do all it can to support the Japan National Football Team and ensure that it can give its best performance. With regard to the travel of supporters to North Korea, the football associations involved are engaging in consultations today or tomorrow concerning the implementation of the match and the wishes of supporters to travel. Based on the results of those consultations the Government will make an overall response, but no conclusion has yet been reached.

(Abridged)

REPORTER:In your press conference yesterday, you indicated that with regard to the selection of the next generation FX fighter jet, mutual operability would be taken into consideration. I believe that there are four selection criteria, including performance and cost. Is it now the case that inter-operability is established as a separate selection criterion in the context of Japan-U.S. relations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:You have just mentioned that there are four selection criteria, but in actual fact there are many factors to take into consideration. I cannot say how these criteria will be considered, but selection will be made on the basis of stringent review and consideration.

REPORTER:So does that mean that inter-operability will also be considered?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:Yes, as I responded yesterday, inter-operability will be considered.

(Abridged)

REPORTER:With regard to the virus infection of computers at overseas diplomatic missions, which also came up in yesterday's press conference, there are media reports that the virus that was detected was targeting only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Do you have any further information about the facts of this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:It is a fact that many of these so-called targeted e-mails are circulating. Information concerning the individual cases of detection, the specific type of virus, the names of diplomatic establishments where viruses were removed and the specific measures that were implemented are classified and I will not go into details. However, it is not the case at all that this incident led to the leaking of internal information.