Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• Government's preparation against North Korea's plan to launch a missile, which it calls a "satellite"
• The review of the distribution of work load of the Cabinet Secretariat and Cabinet Office
• Specific numeric targets for power saving efforts in Hokkaido
• North Korean Human Rights Abuses Awareness Week

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Firstly, I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet Meeting. The meeting approved nine general measures, Cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Okada and I made statements concerning the review of the distribution of work load of the Cabinet Secretariat and Cabinet Office. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism made a statement concerning changes to the Basic Plan for Measures in Areas of Heavy Snowfall. Minister Nakatsuka made a statement concerning the Report of the Outline of the Measures Taken for Resolution of the Failed Financial Institutions. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made statements concerning the report based on the stipulations of Article 106, Paragraph 25.1 of the National Public Service Act, the FY2012 White Paper on Fire and Disaster Management, and also on the allocation of fiscal 2012 special tax grants for December.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning personnel quotas in FY2013. Deputy Prime Minister Okada made statements concerning personnel quotas in FY2013 and the revision of salary levels of the officers and employees of special public corporations, etc., and independent administrative agencies. Minister Maehara made a statement concerning the vitalization of the real estate and infrastructure investment market. The Minister of Defense made a statement concerning the response by the Ministry of Defense to the launch by North Korea of a missile, which it calls a "satellite."

Prior to the Cabinet Meeting, the Security Council Meeting was held. At today's meeting, we discussed "preparation against North Korea's plan to launch a missile, which it calls a "satellite."" Regarding this time's North Korea's plan to launch a missile, which it calls a "satellite," our government's response includes implementation of order for destruction measures, based on the "guidelines for emergency response" pursuant to the provisions of Article 82-3, Paragraph 3 of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Law and dissemination of information regarding the launch to our people, and those are described in the distributed material. The Government predicts that the possibility of its falling down within our territory would be most unlikely under normal condition. We would like to ask our people to continue on with their normal lives and activities as usual. At the same time, however, as the Government in order to prepare for bare possibility, the relevant agencies are on heightened alert. In the case North Korea launches the missile, which it calls a "satellite," the Government immediately provides the appropriate information by utilizing various means including Em-Net, J-Alert and Twitter, aiming to provide the information to the public. We would like to ask our people to keep attention to information from TV or radio. Also, after this conference, an official in charge of this matter is to hold a press conference. I would like to leave any technical questions to be raised then.

Next, I believe that another press sheet has been distributed to you, concerning the review of the distribution of work load of the Cabinet Secretariat and Cabinet Office that I have just mentioned. Based on the decision in the Cabinet meeting of November 2, work has proceeded to make specific revisions to the work of the Cabinet Secretariat and Cabinet Office and interim measures were today decided in the Cabinet meeting. The specific items for revision are detailed in the document that has been distributed to you. The work of nine headquarters, councils and other bodies that have been mandated by the Cabinet and have been conducted to date by the Cabinet Secretariat or Cabinet Office will either be discontinued or transferred to the ministry or agency that has a close connection to the work being implemented. In addition, councils and other bodies that have been based on cooperative arrangements among concerned ministries and agencies will also be reorganized to the degree that it is possible to do so. Based on the policy decided by the Cabinet in November, from the perspective of improving the primary functions of the Cabinet Secretariat and Cabinet Office, further and sustained efforts will be made to review work load. For further details please direct your inquiries to the Cabinet Affairs Office of the Cabinet Secretariat and the General Affairs Division of the Cabinet Office.

Next I would like to once again report on the commencement of the period for specific numeric targets for power saving efforts within the service area of Hokkaido Electric Power Company. Based on the decision made at the joint meeting of the Electricity Supply-Demand Review Meeting and the Energy and Environment Council held on November 2, from Monday this week (December 3), we commenced general power saving efforts, without recourse to a specific numeric target. Within the areas serviced by Hokkaido Electric Power Company, from next Monday, December 10, we will be requesting power saving efforts targeting reductions of at least 7% more than the previous year. The period for a specific numeric target for power saving efforts will run until March 8 next year. Following the commencement of this request for specific numeric targets in power saving efforts, the Government will give due consideration to ensure the well-being of the vulnerable, including the elderly and also maintain the functions of lifeline utilities and services. In addition, at times when supply and demand is not under pressure, due consideration will be given to production activities, including those in the agricultural and tourism sectors. Although these measures will cause considerable inconvenience, we ask the people and businesses of Hokkaido for their cooperation in power saving efforts. The Government will continue to make every effort to ensure power supply capacity and will work together with local governments and power companies, making a swift and detailed response to all matters, including the provision of information about power saving efforts.

Next I would like to report on a matter in my capacity as Minister for the Abduction Issue. There is a law in Japan known as the Law to Address the Abduction Issue and Other North Korean Human Rights Violations. Under this law it is stipulated that December 10 to 16 each year should be designated as "North Korean Human Rights Abuses Awareness Week." A series of events will be held this year, including a symposium on the abduction issue on Saturday, December 15. In addition, a choral concert will be held on Saturday, December 22, as a related event. As the resolution of the abduction is one for which the wide-ranging support and understanding of the people of Japan is critical, we hope for the understanding and cooperation of the people during Awareness Week.

Q&As

• Government's preparation against North Korea's plan to launch a missile, which it calls a "satellite"

REPORTER: Can you confirm that the order for destruction measures was issued a short while ago?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I believe that it was issued at 8:50 am.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Following the issuance of the order for destruction measures today, I believe that most preparations to respond to a missile launch have now been completed and measures are in place, including a structure for the provision of information. At the time of the previous launch there were a number of issues that caused confusion, including the issue of the provision of information. Given those experiences last time, how would you evaluate the current status of preparations and the structure that is in place?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Today the Minister of Defense noted that in comparison to preparations for the previous missile launch, the advance preparations and deployments being implemented by the Ministry of Defense have actually taken slightly longer. However, thanks to the tremendous cooperation of all ministries, agencies and prefectures concerned, particularly Okinawa Prefecture, the entire process has run extremely smoothly, leading to optimal preparations being expected to be in place by December 9, one day prior to the first possible day for a launch. The Minister of Defense has expressed his appreciation to all ministries and agencies concerned for their cooperation. In that sense, I believe that as of today, the Government's overall response has been exceedingly proper and a robust structure is now in place.

REPORTER: With regard to the missile response measures, the current structure is facing a situation in which all Cabinet ministers are returning to their constituencies to prepare for the upcoming general election. Did the Prime Minister have anything to say about the response structure during this pre-election period?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As I have announced myself, a structure is in place whereby from December 10 onwards, the Prime Minister and the Chief Cabinet Secretary will be able to respond immediately at the Prime Minister's Office to any situation, between the hours of 7:00 am and 12 noon. It was also decided today to request the Cabinet ministers who may be required to make an immediate response following a missile launch as part of their ministerial duties, to ensure that they are on stand-by in the relevant ministry or agency between the hours I have just mentioned. These ministers are the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Minister of Defense and the Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission. In addition, it is naturally the Government's policy to ensure that other Cabinet ministers are ready to respond to any contingency, by ensuring a robust and reliable liaison structure is always in place.

REPORTER: In addition to implementing a thorough response structure, given the fact that it remains unknown as to whether North Korea will actually fire the missile, it will be necessary for the Government to continue to make efforts to call on North Korea to exercise self-restraint. What is the current situation and what is your outlook for how the situation will develop in this regard?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Any missile launch by North Korea would be clearly in contravention of related resolutions issued by the United Nations Security Council and would also go against the statement issued by the president of the Security Council following the missile launch in April this year. Not only would a missile launch be to the detriment of peace and stability in the region, it would also inevitably have the effect of significantly setting back efforts towards the resolution of various issues of concern between Japan and North Korea in the current bilateral intergovernmental consultations. Japan has continued to state that if North Korea goes ahead with the launch it would be highly regrettable. We are also engaged in close cooperation with the United States and the Republic of Korea, as well as with other countries concerned, including China and Russia, and through diplomatic channels we are continuing to make every effort to call strongly on North Korea to exercise self-restraint and desist from launching the missile.

(Abridged)