Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Japan-China relations
• Japan-North Korea relations

(Abridged)

REPORTER: There was a similar question this morning; however my question is in relation to the letter to Mr. Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China. It appears that Senior Vice-Minister Yamaguchi for Foreign Affairs is not able to leave for the Republic of China, could you please inform us of the current situation and when in the future he may be able to depart? (Abridged) Yes, I meant the letter and the schedule of the Senior Vice-Minister himself who will be delivering the letter.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I have been informed that the Senior Vice-Minister is scheduled to leave early this evening. With regard to the letter, I have been informed that content of the letter has already been approved.

REPORTER: Tomorrow the Japan-Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Consultation will be held. Today the DPRK delegation made a move to warn Japan  by stating that it is disrespectful for Japan to raise the abduction issue. Could you tell us with what attitude the Government will approach tomorrow's consultation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: We will take the same attitude that we always said we would take. As it will be the first official Japan-DPRK diplomatic consultation in four years, tomorrow's consultation will be a preliminary consultation where the agenda of discussions will be decided. I believe that the delegation member's comment indicated that he was not willing to comment on discussions prematurely. As the Japanese Government, we will approach the consultation with the understanding that there are a number of issues between Japan and the DPRK, and that naturally the abduction issues is one of those issues.

(Abridged)