Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I would first like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 21 general measures and also the promulgation of a treaty and laws, as well as a cabinet order and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Okada made statements concerning the basic policy on the reform of government regulations and systems in the energy sector, and on the policy concerning the response to the recommendations received from the public comment system the "Voice of the People" on regulatory and systemic reform. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the policy for curbing the recruitment of national public servants in fiscal 2013. I made a statement concerning government measures directed at North Korea.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology made a statement concerning measures by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology regarding the prevention of child abuse, and the Minister of the Environment made a statement concerning the policy for curbing the recruitment of national public servants in fiscal 2013.

Prior to the Cabinet meeting, the fourth meeting of the Headquarters for Administrative Reform Implementation was held. At the meeting the policy for curbing the recruitment of national public servants in fiscal 2013 and the plan for review of housing complexes for independent administrative agencies staff were both approved. In addition, there was a report on the status of considerations into the Urban Renaissance Agency and the Japan Housing Finance Agency. Reports were also received concerning the status of the review of the purchase of periodicals that is part of the internal review of Government tasks and also on the regulatory reform of the energy sector. Deputy Prime Minister will be providing a detailed explanation of these various items in his press conference today.

The statement I made in the Cabinet meeting was in regard to the extension of sanctions against North Korea. The Cabinet meeting today approved the extension of sanctions against North Korea for a further one-year period, which are: (1) a ban on port calls by sea vessels registered in North Korea, and (2) a ban on all exports to and imports from North Korea. I requested once again all ministries and agencies concerned to engage in close cooperation to ensure the consistent implementation of these measures, which are designed to prompt North Korea to take specific actions towards the resolution of various issues of concern. Furthermore, I also referred to the launch of a missile, which North Korea has announced as a "satellite launch," confirming with Cabinet ministers the government policy of continuing to call strongly on North Korea to exercise self-restraint with regard to the launch. Please refer to the materials that have been distributed to you for further details.

Q&As

• North Korea
• Restarting of operations at nuclear power stations

REPORTER: With regard to North Korea, in the event that the missile launch, which has been claimed to be a "satellite launch" by North Korea, is actually implemented, will the Government consider further strengthening the sanctions that are in place?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The current situation with regard to a response in the event that a launch does take place is one that requires constant vigilance. In such an event the Government will make a comprehensive judgment with a due sense of urgency about the measures that need to be taken, carefully monitoring the situation and based on the perspective of what means would be most effective to resolve the various issues of concern, and also mindful of the actions being taken by the international community.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the ministerial meeting of the four ministers concerned with the restarting of operations at nuclear power stations, there has been word that the meeting could be convened this evening. What are the facts of this matter and if it is the case that a meeting will be convened what will be on the agenda for discussion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The meeting of the four ministers concerned is scheduled to take place around 7:00pm today. I believe that the press will have access to this meeting for coverage of opening statements. This is the first such meeting and it will not be held to come to any decisions, but rather, as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Edano has also stated, it will firstly be a meeting to receive scientific and technical reports about the discussions that have taken place in various bodies, including the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC). I expect, therefore, that today' s first meeting of the four ministers concerned will be a kick-off meeting to initiate discussions.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the launch of what is being termed a "satellite," but is considered to be a "missile," the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has received an invitation from North Korea to attend the launch. What response does the Government intend to make to this invitation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I have received a report that yesterday JAXA received a letter from the Space Technology Committee of North Korea. This letter was in the form of an invitation to visit the launch site for the launch that has been announced to take place between April 12 and 16. The Government of Japan already has a policy in place of requesting Japanese citizens to refrain from travel to North Korea and is also urging North Korea to exercise self-restraint and refrain from implementing the launch. Therefore it is obviously not appropriate for concerned people from Japan to attend the launch test and this stance has been duly communicated to JAXA.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the invitation to JAXA, has the response of the Government been conveyed to North Korea already?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Government stance has been communicated firstly to JAXA itself.

REPORTER: So has JAXA informed North Korea of its response to the invitation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As it was JAXA that received the invitation, it is therefore JAXA that will provide a response to North Korea.

(Abridged)