Home > News > Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary > January 2012 > Friday, January 13, 2012 (AM)
Friday, January 13, 2012 (AM)
Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)
[Provisional Translation]
Q&As
(Abridged)
REPORTER: In today's Cabinet meeting an announcement was made concerning the reshuffling of the Cabinet, and now ministerial resignations are being collected. Please comment on the facts of this situation.
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Prime Minister commented that today a reshuffling of the Cabinet would take place, and with that, resignations - letters of resignation - were collected from each of the ministers.
(Abridged)
REPORTER: When collecting the resignations from the ministers, did the Prime Minister offer any explanation with regard to how or why the Cabinet is being reshuffled? If so, please provide more details.
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a press conference today concerning such issues as the purpose and aim of today's Cabinet reshuffle, so you will have the opportunity to hear the details directly from him there. However, he made the comment that over the past four months Japan has steadily resolved a range of issues, including successfully passing reconstruction-related bills, such as the FY2011 third supplementary budget and on the establishment of the Reconstruction Agency, achieved Step 2 in working towards resolving the nuclear power station accident, completed drafts of the FY2011 supplementary budgets and FY2012 budget, and advanced preparations for the comprehensive reform of the social security and tax systems. He then extended his sincerest gratitude to each of the Cabinet members for their hard work.
(Abridged)
REPORTER: According to certain news outlets, on January 11 North Korea fired missiles into the Sea of Japan. Please comment on the authenticity of these reports.
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I am aware of the news. The Government makes efforts on a daily basis to collect and analyze intelligence with regard to North Korean missiles, as this is an issue of grave concern. I cannot, however, comment in depth on the concrete details of each event, as the issue is by nature related to national intelligence. At any rate, in the event that such an event directly impacts our national security the Government will provide explanations to citizens in a proper manner.
(Abridged)
