Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• A meeting of the Security Council concerning Japan's defense program for fiscal 2013
• A meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development
• The first meeting of the new Headquarters for the Abduction issue
• The third meeting of the Headquarters for Japan's Economic Revitalization
• The personnel decisions concerning the Cabinet Office
• The abduction of Japanese nationals in Algeria

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to start by reading a few statements.

Prior to the opening of the Cabinet meeting this morning, the Cabinet members offered their prayers for the repose of all ten of the Japanese nationals who lost their lives in Algeria and held a minute of silence in their memory.

I will now give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved six general measures, Cabinet orders and personnel decisions.

With regard to statements by ministers, Prime Minister Abe and Minister Furuya made statements concerning the establishment of the Headquarters on the Abduction Issue. I made a statement concerning Japan's defense program for fiscal 2013. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the consumer price index. Prime Minister Abe also made a statement concerning atemporary acting  Ministers while Ministers in charge are on overseas visits.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Furuya made a statement concerning the promotion of an appropriate response to the issue of bullying in schools. The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology made a statement concerning collaboration with the police in making an appropriate response to the issue of bullying in schools. I also made a statement concerning the promotion of measures to deal with bullying in schools. The Minister of Finance and Minister Amari made statements concerning policy cooperation between the Government and the Bank of Japan in order to break away from prolonged deflation and realize sustainable economic growth.

Today, prior to the Cabinet meeting, a meeting of the Security Council was convened. At the meeting Japan's defense program for fiscal 2013 was approved, after which it was also approved by the Cabinet. With regard to the content of the decision that was approved today, I believe that reference materials have been distributed to you. Given the changes in the security environment surrounding Japan, from the perspective of further strengthening the Japan-United States alliance and enhancing Japan's defensive structures, it has been decided to revise the current National Defense Program Guidelines and rescind the current Mid-term Defense Program. With regard to the defense budget for fiscal 2013, a policy has been decided on that will enable appropriate development of Japan's defense capability, on the basis of which the budget for fiscal 2013 will be formulated. Once a conclusion is reached concerning the revision of the National Defense Program Guidelines, this conclusion will be reflected in the budget formulation for fiscal 2014 and diligent preparations are continuing to that end.

Next, a report has been received from the Ministry of Defense concerning the launch of a missile by North Korea in December 2012, which it called a "satellite." For the details of this report, please direct your questions to the Ministry of Defense.

Prior to the Cabinet meeting today a meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development was held, the first such meeting to be held under the Abe Cabinet. The meeting approved the Basic Plan for Space Development, which will form the basis for Japan's space policy over the next five years. In line with the basic plan it is the Government's intention to promote a well-modulated space policy in the coming years. Minister Yamamoto, who is Minister of State for Space Policy, will be providing an explanation about this issue in a press conference. For further information, please direct your questions to the relevant authority.

In today's Cabinet meeting it was decided to newly establish the Headquarters on the Abduction Issue. The new Headquarters will involve the participation of all ministers of state, in order to engage in concerted efforts towards a resolution of the abduction issue. Following the Cabinet meeting, in order to discuss a future response policy the first meeting of the new Headquarters for the Abduction Issue was held. The meeting confirmed the basic policy of the Abe Administration towards resolving the abduction issue and approved specific policies and measures towards that end. For further information, please direct your questions to the Secretariat of the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue within the Cabinet Secretariat.

Today the third meeting of the Headquarters for Japan's Economic Revitalization was held following the Cabinet meeting. Two days ago the first meeting of the Industrial Competitiveness Council was held, at which discussions were launched on the promotion of a growth strategy for Japan. With regard to the challenges that were identified in that meeting, the Prime Minister has expressed his resolve to not simply wait for a strategy to be compiled, but to press forward rapidly with concrete actions. At today's meeting of the Headquarters for Japan's Economic Revitalization, following the discussions in the Industrial Competitiveness Council, the Prime Minister issued instructions comprising ten points, concerning an interim response to urgent and pressing issues. You can find the details of these ten points in the reference materials that have been distributed to you. Based on the instructions from the Prime Minister these results of considerations will also be discussed in the Industrial Competitiveness Council, with a view to putting words into actions with a due sense of speed. For further information, please direct your questions to Minister Amari.

Next I would like to report on the personnel decisions concerning the Cabinet Office that were approved in the Cabinet meeting today.

As of January 25, it has been decided to appoint Mr. Kenji Umetani of the Cabinet Office Minister's Secretariat, to the position of President of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) of the Cabinet Office. Also, as of January 25, it has been decided to appoint Mr. Hiroaki Ishii, Deputy Director General of the Cabinet Office Minister's Secretariat, to the position of Director General for Economic and Fiscal Management at the Cabinet Office. Also as of January 25, it has been decided that Prof. Atsushi Seike, President of Keio University, will serve in a non-executive capacity as Honorary President of ESRI.

With regard to the hostage incident of Japanese nationals in Algeria, I would like to make a following statement.  Shortly before 7:00 am this morning (25th), the seven Japanese nationals and the nine bodies arrived at the Haneda airport on board the government aircraft. Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Kishida, both Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries Mr Kato and Mr Seko and other government officials concerned as well as the concerned people from JGC Corporation went to the airport and offered flowers and silent tribute to the victims.

I am deeply saddened by the loss of the ten Japanese nationals, who had been active at the forefront in the world, due to being involved in this despicable act of terror. I once again would like to extend our sincerest condolences to their families and the persons involved.

Foreign Minister Mr Kishida and Senior Vice Foreign Minister Mr Suzuki headed to the Prime Minister's Office directly from the Haneda airport, and then reported to Prime Minister Abe. Following this, the seventh meeting of "the Response Headquarters for the Abduction of Japanese Nationals in Algeria" was held from around 9:00 am. At the meeting, being followed by the moment of silence, Senior Vice Foreign Minister Suzuki reported regarding the situation on the ground. Afterward, we firmly condemned this terror act, and confirmed our firm commitment and determination to fight against terrorism in cooperation with the international community, while expressing the sincerest regret of the Japanese Government.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Abe gave instruction to the Government to promptly work on the review of this incident, and then the verification of necessary measures in a united manner as one government under the leadership of myself (Chief Cabinet Secretary), in order to secure the safety of the Japanese companies and nationals working abroad at the front.

Based on the instruction, we are going to establish the verification committee composed of the Directors-General level from the Cabinet Secretariat and ministries and agencies concerned. It will compile the lessons learned, and conduct consideration on the necessary counter-measures while hearing from the experts.

Regarding the another body whose identity was confirmed last night, we are making all possible efforts to make the body return to Japan as soon as possible. It is scheduled that the body will be returned to Japan by a commercial aircraft to be arrived at the Narita airport in the afternoon tomorrow (26th).

In regards to the names of the victims due to this incident, they have already been made public.

Q&As

• New Komeito Chief Representative Yamaguchi's visit to China
• North Korea's announcement on conducting a nuclear test

(Abridged)

REPORTER: New Komeito Chief Representative Yamaguchi is currently visiting China. He has met with President Xi Jinping of China and has conveyed a personal message from Prime Minister Abe. What information does the Government have about this visit and how has the Government been involved?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At 11:00 am today, Chief Representative Yamaguchi met with President Xi Jinping of China. He was carrying a personal message from the Prime Minister and I believe that the meeting was naturally held at a high level.

REPORTER: Was the meeting arranged by the Government or by New Komeito?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The visit to China is by the Chief Representative of New Komeito, one of the ruling parties, and it has been conducted as such.

REPORTER: For several days North Korea has been announcing that it will be conducting a nuclear test. I believe that the Government is monitoring the actions of North Korea, but have any abnormal movements been observed? I would like to ask you to tell us, to the extent that it is possible to do so, about any information the Government may have concerning an outlook about whether a nuclear test appears imminent.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Naturally the Government of Japan is always on a state of alert in such matters. Furthermore, Japan is not acting alone but in coordination with the other concerned countries, beginning with the United States, based on concerted efforts to pass the United Nations (UN) resolution and to exact UN sanctions on North Korea.

REPORTER: At the current point have any signs been observed that a nuclear test is likely?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No such signs have been observed.

(Abridged)