Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Response to the situation of North Korea
• Prime Minister's health condition
• A special envoy to attend the funeral of former UK Prime Minister Thatcher
• The Advisory Council on the Establishment of a National Security Council
• The return of lands south of Kadena in Okinawa

REPORTER: With regard to the situation in North Korea, there have been suggestions that a missile may be launched soon. What is the current status?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There has been no change in the situation over the past few days.

REPORTER: Does the Government's stance remain unchanged?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes. North Korea continues to persist in provocative words and actions and the Government's ongoing stance is to cooperate with the countries concerned, primarily the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK), and make every possible effort to ensure the safety and security of the public.

REPORTER: You are always stating that the Government is working in cooperation with the United States and the ROK, however, in a press conference today Minister (of Defense) Onodera made a remark to the effect that different predictions are being made by the Government of the ROK, which first stated that April 10 was likely for a launch, and then April 11, and so on. Does this imply that the Government of Japan is somewhat out of step with the ROK?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I think that rather than what you have mentioned, what Minister Onodera was referring to was the fact that the ROK has various intelligence channels. I do not recall him saying anything other than that about intelligence from the ROK. It is probably the case that his response was referring to press reports and so on at the beginning of his statement.

REPORTER: I believe that either in the Cabinet meeting or in ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting this morning you gave some kind of instructions in light of the fact that there have been a number of cases in which erroneous information has been issued concerning the launch of a missile by North Korea. Could you tell us what instructions you gave?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Although in normal circumstances I do not divulge the contents of the ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, as it so happened that the issue of North Korea came up, I will report on what was said. Yesterday, as has been reported by a number of newspapers, mistaken reports that a missile had been launched were sent out by aviation bureau officials. In ministerial discussions I noted that this matter was extremely regrettable and if it was actually the case that erroneous information had been sent out, I called for the Government to respond to the issue with a sense of urgency and correct such information immediately.

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the Prime Minister's visit to Iwate Prefecture on April 6. As can be seen in a photo in a weekly magazine, the Prime Minister ate a dish that included wakame seaweed. Given that the Prime Minister suffers from ulcerous colitis and that seaweed is something that cannot be well digested, some years ago it was the case that seaweed was something that the Prime Minister was unable to eat. Although his diet may have expanded in recent years, I believe that the Prime Minister is still taking medicine for his condition and that it is still not totally cured. I believe that from a security perspective care should be taken in advance about what the Prime Minister eats. What are your thoughts on this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that the Prime Minister has overcome the condition and is now in good health.

REPORTER: With regard to the dispatch of a special envoy to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom, can you confirm that former Prime Minister Mori will be attending?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes. Final arrangements are being made for former Prime Minister Mori to attend the funeral.

REPORTER: Will he be designated as a special envoy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, he will be a special envoy.

REPORTER: Will Cabinet approval be required to grant him the status of special envoy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes. Prior to his departure a final decision will be made in a round robin Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and he is expected to be approved as special envoy.

REPORTER: The weekend is drawing near, so with regard to the North Korean issue, what response structure will be in place at the Prime Minister's Office and other Government offices and what response will be made during the weekend?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is unknown what will occur and when it will occur, but rest assured that measures are already in place to ensure the safety and security of the public, whatever may happen.

REPORTER: Will you or one of the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries be stationed at the Prime Minister's Office?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Even if not in the Prime Minister's Office, we will be in the vicinity and measures will be in firmly in place across the Government throughout Saturday and Sunday.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Yesterday a meeting of the Advisory Council on the Establishment of a National Security Council was held and in your briefing to that meeting you noted that the thing you found most frustrating at the time of the Algerian hostage crisis was that the structures of Government ministries and agencies were all vertically aligned and compartmentalized, meaning that in such busy times of crisis, information is not comprehensively shared. You noted, therefore, that one of your greatest concerns concerning the reform of structures and the establishment of an NSC was such comprehensive information sharing. Could you tell us in a little more detail about what you were referring to and in what ways the vertical structures of ministries and agencies meant that information was forwarded in piecemeal fashion?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: For example, what I feel about cases such as the Algerian hostage situation and the North Korean issue is that-taking the example of the Algerian hostage situation-it is necessary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to coordinate the information they possess overall and then forward that comprehensive information to me. At the time I was in the position of receiving information from each ministry concerned separately.

REPORTER: In the proposal as it currently stands the concept is for all information to be passed through the NSC and then on to you and the Prime Minister. Do you think that such a structure would be appropriate? Would it not also be possible for executive  secretaries to the Prime Minister to gather relevant information and then report individually to the Prime Minister? Do you think that the route of information flow via executive secretaries is one that should be maintained?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe it to be of the utmost importance to integrate all information. At the same time, it would also be important for the NSC to utilize the information at hand to determine strategy and what response is required on the basis of certain information on a daily basis. My honest opinion is therefore that I keenly feel the need for an expert body, such as the NSC, which would make judgments on matters relating to security and diplomacy.

REPORTER: With regard to the dispatch of a special envoy to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Thatcher, what was the reason for requesting former Prime Minister Mori to serve as special envoy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Mr. Mori is a former prime minister, and as I have noted previously, the relationship between Japan and the United Kingdom is a very important one. Furthermore, former Prime Minister Thatcher made significant achievements during her time in power. Given our desire to send a former prime minister as a special envoy, we decided to request former Prime Minister Mori to attend the funeral.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the Consolidation Plan for the return of lands south of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, in a press conference today Governor Nakaima of Okinawa Prefecture has stated an opinion that the plan for the return of lands should be revised. What is the Government's reaction to this statement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have not heard anything about this matter officially, although I am aware of the press reports. However, if the Consolidation Plan as it currently stands is implemented, it will result in the return of in excess of 1,000 hectares of land located in the central parts of Okinawa where there are extremely high population densities, which, I believe, will lead to a significant reduction in the burden placed on the people of Okinawa. However, at the same time there is the issue of the relocation of bases and I believe that we must continue to make progress on this issue while listening to the opinion of the local residents.

REPORTER: On a related note, in his press conference Governor Nakaima noted that even if the Government says that the plan should be implemented because it has been decided, it would be hard to implement something that has been decided without input from local residents. What is the Government's explanation in response to such an observation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Consolidation Plan represents a decision made between two countries. Naturally I believe that the Okinawa Development and Promotion Bureau of the Government has engaged in consultations taking into account the wishes of local residents. However, I would like to ask for understanding that all of Japan's wishes may not necessarily be fulfilled. If the governor has made his comments against such a background, then naturally the Government should make every effort with regard to timing and the various plans, etc.

(Abridged)