Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the death of General Secretary Kim Jong-Il of North Korea, the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office has revealed that before the special programming was broadcast, the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office had sent material to the Prime Minister's Office indicating that special programming, if aired, would be the first since the death of Secretary General Kim Il-Sung. Can you verify the facts? Also, if this is true, may I ask what decisions were made by the Prime Minister's Office upon receipt of this material?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: To verify the facts, I understand that first, the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office made an initial report to the Office of the Executive Secretary to the Prime Minister at the Prime Minister's Office that a special programming will be broadcast in North Korea at noon of December 19. Following this, the Office of the Executive Secretary to the Prime Minister received a report with examples of North Korea's past special and significant programming, including the example of the report on the death of Mr. Kim Il-Sung. I believe this initial report and these past examples concerning special programming were reported, in order and promptly, to the Prime Minister through the Executive Secretary. I understand that because the Prime Minister had advance knowledge of the special programming in North Korea, when he was leaving to deliver a stump speech in Shimbashi as scheduled, he said to the Executive Secretary and others who were staying at the Prime Minister's Office that he expects thorough measures to be taken and instructed them to swiftly report the contents of the broadcast. Later, shortly after noon, the Prime Minister was informed by the Executive Secretary that North Korea reported on the death of Secretary General Kim Jong-Il. The Prime Minister immediately returned to the Prime Minister's Office and issued the necessary instructions, including reinforcement of the information gathering structure, and held a meeting of the National Security Council from 1:00pm. I believe that is how the events unfolded.

(Abridged)