Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Response to the situation of North Korea
• Avian influenza in China

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding North Korean missile testing. Today North Korea celebrates the 101st birthday of the late Kim Il Sung. What is your view on the possibility of a missile launch today?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that the situation has not changed and remains the same as the past few days. The Government is taking all possible measures to ensure that the safety and security of citizens are protected in the event of any contingency.

REPORTER: I believe that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is visiting the Prime Minister's Office at the moment. Do you believe that the fact that he is visiting the three countries-Japan, China and the Republic of Korea-is influencing the timing of the launch?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: North Korea has been making a number of claims, but I am not sure whether the visit of Mr.John Kerry to Japan, China and the Republic of Korea has had any influence on the timing of the missile launch. I do not know what North Korea's thinking behind its actions is.

REPORTER: I understand that yesterday Secretary of State John Kerry made a number of comments emphasizing the importance of the framework of the Six-Party Talks, urging North Korea to open up for dialog. I got the impression that during this weekend the Republic of Korea, and particularly the U.S., made some changes to their approach and are now seeking dialog with North Korea. Could you share with us the Japanese Government's thoughts on this, in relation to the timing of the launch, and also how the Japanese Government is planning to approach the situation after this change?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware that Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the possibility of dialog with North Korea and if this means that the U.S. has made this move in order to denuclearize North Korea, I believe that Japan should, of course, not close our window to talks either. Regardless, this dialog and pressure is our basic policy, but it is a prerequisite that North Korea denuclearize. I understand that Secretary of State John Kerry said the same thing. Either way, I believe that it is a prerequisite that North Korea cancel its missile launch and move to denuclearize.

REPORTER: Do you believe that North Korea has shown any sign of such a move? Any sign of compromise?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, not to the best of my knowledge. However, I am aware of the report that Secretary of State John Kerry has been working to encourage such moves when he visited the Republic of Korea and China.

REPORTER: It came to light that the Osaka Regional Civil Aviation Bureau under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) mistakenly sent an email regarding the North Korean missile launch the day before yesterday. I believe that this came about just one day after you asked the relevant ministers during a ministerial meeting following the Cabinet meeting to try to prevent recurrence of this kind of mistake. Could you tell us how you view this incident and could you also share with us how the Government is planning to address this problem?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This incident came about after we gave warning and gave instructions to all ministries and agencies to remain vigilant and be thorough in their actions following the initial error. Therefore, I view this as particularly regrettable. The Administrative Vice-Minister of MLIT and the Director of the Aviation Bureau were at the Prime Minister's Office at my request and I instructed them to thoroughly ensure that this would not reoccur. I have sternly asked for this kind of mismanagement to not happen again and we would like to include taking punitive action as one of our means of recourse.

REPORTER: When you say punitive action, are you referring to something like a salary reduction?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: All I can say for now is that we will be taking a firm hand.

REPORTER: As for those people who will be subject to the punitive action, am I right to understand that it would be the actual person in charge or will it be wider than that?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that it will not only be limited to the actual person in charge.

REPORTER: If this is not only limited to the actual person, how far will it go? Will vice minister-level personnel and the direct supervisor or somebody who is responsible for oversight of the department be held responsible?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have instructed that those people are considered when the punitive action is decided.

REPORTER: Would your idea of punitive action include official disciplinary action?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The incident came about only one day after I gave warning. So there is no doubt that there was a lack of vigilance. Therefore, I have instructed that all possibilities are explored.

REPORTER: Am I right to understand that you have instructed the consideration of punitive action?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, that is correct, that is what I have instructed.

REPORTER: I believe that the incident you are referring to is the one that occurred on the 13th. Do you have any intention of taking  punitive action for the incident that occurred on the 11th?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary gave warning on the 12th during the Liaison Meeting of Administrative Vice-Ministers, and we are currently investigating how effectively this was communicated to examine the connection between the incidents on the 11th and the 13th. I believe that the punitive action may be taken based on the outcome of such investigations.

REPORTER: Am I right to understand that punitive action may be taken because despite a request to avoid making the same mistake the error occurred once again?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is correct. We are currently investigating how effectively our instructions were communicated and I believe that those who will be subject to punitive action will depend on the outcome of this investigation.

REPORTER: Returning to an earlier topic, what is the Japanese Government's evaluation of the fact that the U.S. has shown a willingness to once again get involved in North Korean issues while visiting China, the Republic of Korea and Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In the midst of the current tense situation, the Secretary of State has visited the Republic of Korea and China and arrived in Japan yesterday. North Korea is setting up to escalate its provocative actions, so in this sense, I believe that this was a particularly timely visit.

REPORTER: It has been pointed out that on the other hand that the talks between the Secretary of State and China, and those with the Republic of Korea show that there were some contradictions in the conditions of negotiation. Does the Japanese Government believe that denuclearization is a prerequisite, and without this it will not be possible to engage in negotiations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I understand that Secretary of State Kerry revealed that he reassured the Republic of Korea and China of a mutual commitment to secure the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and I believe that this will naturally be a precondition.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question on a different topic. I would like to ask a question regarding avian influenza in China. Following the confirmation of the transmission of the flu to a number of people within a family in Shanghai, there have been new cases of infection confirmed in Henan Province. The World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested that there is a possibility that human to human transmission of the virus is occurring. Could you tell us how the Government is planning to address this issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Let me first provide you with the latest information. It has been confirmed that 60 people as of last night have been infected with avian influenza H7N9 in China and 13 deaths have been confirmed. I have been informed that as of now, there have not been any confirmed human to human persisting transmissions. The Japanese Government is currently gathering information. As for the specific case in Shanghai that you just mentioned, I have been informed that the epidemiological data required to determine if the influenza was transmitted from the wife to the husband was insufficient, and therefore requires further investigation. As we cannot necessarily rule out the possibility of persistent human to human transmission, the Government is working as one to advance necessary measures to prepare contingencies including the collection of information through the WHO, provision of information to the public, preparation to develop a testing system, preparation to begin manufacturing of vaccinations and development of action plans. We will take all possible measures to prepare ourselves for any situation.