Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• Implementation of sanctions against North Korea

Today, based upon the Act for Special Measures on Cargo Inspection of North Korean Ships, etc., a submission order was issued by the customs authority concerning seaborne cargo headed for third countries that is deemed to have originated in North Korea. This order was based on an incident that took place in August last year, where a Singapore-registered cargo vessel that made a port of call in Tokyo was found to contain cargo that had been shipped from North Korea via Dalian in China, and which was suspected of being nuclear-related materials. As a result of the necessary inspections being implemented it was found that the cargo was of aluminum alloy rods, which are restricted as being nuclear-related materials. This submission order is the first time for the Act for Special Measures on Cargo Inspection of North Korean Ships, etc., to be applied to nuclear-related materials. This measure provides an indication of Japan's steady implementation of sanctions against North Korea, based on United Nations Security Council resolutions. From now on the Government will continue to make a strict response to cargo thought to be related to North Korea, in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions and the Act for Special Measures on Cargo Inspection of North Korean Ships, etc. For further details, please direct your questions to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Q&As

• The TPP
• Implementation of sanctions against North Korea

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. Following the announcement by Prime Minister Abe that Japan would participate in negotiations on the TPP, could you tell us if there was any kind of reaction from countries that are already participating in negotiations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: To date we have received expressions of welcome upon our announcement that Japan will participate in the TPP negotiations from the United States, Vietnam, Singapore and New Zealand. In addition, I would like to note that the announcement made by the Prime Minister has been informed to all countries engaged in the TPP negotiations through our overseas diplomatic missions.

REPORTER: There are press reports that letters from participating countries were sent to Mexico and Canada, which were the countries that most recently announced their participation other than Japan. Has the Government received any similar kinds of letters from participating countries?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is not the case that such letters have been sent, despite what has been reported.

REPORTER: In the Prime Minister's announcement last week on participation in the TPP negotiations, he noted that negotiating countries would be notified of Japan's intention to participate. By what means will this notification be implemented and by when?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The notification has already been implemented, to countries participating in the TPP negotiations, via Japan's overseas diplomatic missions.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I believe that it is necessary for all 11 countries that are already participating in negotiations to approve Japan's participation. What is the current status of this approval procedure?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We have only just announced our intention to participate and therefore other procedures will take place from now. However, as I have already noted, we have received expressions of welcome from the United States, Vietnam, Singapore and New Zealand.

REPORTER: With regard to your opening statement about cargo inspections, are we to understand that the measure is being implemented in accordance with domestic law, based on the United Nations Security Council resolutions following the recent nuclear test?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes. Based on UNSC Resolution 1874 of June 12, 2009, and the stipulations of the Act for Special Measures on Cargo Inspection of North Korean Ships, etc., of April 14, 2010, the recent measure that I announced in my opening statement has been implemented.

REPORTER: Could I ask what specific danger is thought to be posed by aluminum alloy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Aluminum alloy rods are restricted as being a nuclear-related material, as I have already mentioned. I believe that it is extremely strong and durable. In terms of specifics, there is a possibility that such aluminum rods could be used as components in gas centrifuges, which are a nuclear-related item.

(Abridged)