Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The second meeting of the Headquarters for Health and Medical Strategy Promotion
• Japan's measures against North Korea

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet Meeting. The meeting approved three general measures as well as cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning the measures to freeze the assets of individuals involved in the North Korean development of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles; the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare made a statement concerning the analysis of the 2013 labor economy; the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the results of the labor force survey, consumer price index, and the results of the household budget survey; the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare made a statement concerning the national ratio of jobs to applicants (July 2013); the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the findings of the administrative evaluation and monitoring of the medical care safety measures; the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Minister Yamamoto made a statement concerning the launch of the SPRINT-A satellite carried by the Epsilon Rocket; and Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on an overseas visit.

In ministerial discussions, Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning the Ministerial Committee for the Syrian Situation.

Today the second meeting of the Headquarters for Healthcare and Medical Strategy Promotion was held in which budget requests for FY2014 and appeals related to R&D in the field of medicine were finalized. As for the budget requests and appeals, the budget to be centrally managed by the new independent administrative agency will be 138.2 billion yen and the budget for in-house research institution will be 87.8 billion yen. The new independent administrative agency will have not been established at the time of FY2014 budget requests. However, the budget requests finalized today are expected to eliminate the vertical segmentation between ministries and allow the Government to work as one in advancing medical R&D by identifying budgets to be consolidated into and centrally managed by the new independent administrative agency prior to its establishment. More specifically under my instructions to the relevant ministries, it has been developed as a cooperative project involving seven ministries for disease specific initiatives, clinical research and trial initiatives and initiatives to develop a world-leading healthcare system. We will complete the budget by the end of the year based on the budget requests finalized today and produce positive results. For more details on this topic, please contact the Office for Healthcare and Medical Strategy.

Please allow me to say a few words about Japan's measures against North Korea. North Korea continues nuclear and missile development and is yet to take any concrete action in relation to the abduction issue. Since the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting held in February this year, both countries have discussed imposing sanctions against North Korea. In light of this, in keeping with the objectives of relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, today Japan completed procedures required under Japanese law necessary for the imposition of sanctions such as the freezing of assets on the nine organizations and two individuals involved in the North Korean nuclear development. In light of the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, the Japanese Government will exert every effort for the comprehensive resolution of the outstanding issues of concern such as the abduction, nuclear and missile issues while maintaining our policy of dialogue and pressure. The relevant ministries and agencies will work in close cooperation to steadily implement the measures introduced today in order to urge North Korea to take positive and practical action to resolve these outstanding issues. In the interest of increasing effectiveness, the Japanese Government will encourage other countries to take similar measures against North Korea in addition to closely cooperating with the U.S. For more details on this topic, I ask that you refer to the press releases issued by each ministry and agency.

Q&As

• The situation in Syria
• Japan's measures against North Korea
• Government structures for information crisis management
• ROK's court rulings regarding compensation payments for forced wartime labour

REPORTER: I believe that prior to the Cabinet meeting there was a meeting of relevant ministers, including the Prime Minister, yourself and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, concerning the situation in Syria. Did the Prime Minister give any instructions during this meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In the meeting the ministers concerned shared information and exchanged opinions concerning the response of Japan in the event of military action in Syria. Prime Minister Abe did give instructions to the ministers concerned, relating to the following four points: to continue to maintain close cooperation with countries concerned, including the United States; to engage in collection, analysis and evaluation of intelligence concerning the situation regarding the use of chemical weapons; to consider measures that would help to stabilize the situation in Syria; and to make every effort to protect the safety of Japanese nationals, including those in countries close to Syria.

REPORTER: In the meeting did the ministers exchange opinions concerning the response of the Government of Japan in the event that the United States embarks upon military action without a resolution being adopted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, in today's meeting of ministers concerned we confirmed our recognition of the situation. Namely that the situation is a cause for grave concern, there is an extremely high possibility that chemical weapons have been used in Syria, that the use of chemical weapons is not permissible under any circumstances from a humanitarian perspective, and that responsibility for the deterioration of the situation in Syria clearly lies with the Assad government, which shows no regard for the worsening humanitarian situation. In addition, as it is said that countries in the vicinity of Japan, such as North Korea, also possess chemical weapons, the use of chemical weapons in Syria cannot, therefore, be said to be of no concern to Japan. The Government will accordingly continue to cooperate closely with the international community. These were the points that were confirmed by the ministers concerned, in addition to which the Prime Minister gave the instructions that I have already mentioned. With regard to the part of your question concerning military action by the United States, as this is still hypothetical, I am not able to respond to your question at the current point.

REPORTER: In your opening statement you made a point about North Korea and in your previous response you have also mentioned North Korea, in the context of it being a neighboring country of Japan. Is there any link between the measures being taken against North Korea and the current situation in Syria?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There is no such link. Since the Japan-United States summit meeting in February this year, Japan and the United States have engaged in ongoing consultations concerning the issue of sanctions against North Korea. It is on the basis of these consultations that the measures are being taken. There is no direct link to Syria.

REPORTER: If that is the case, then is there any reason for the timing of the announcement with regard to North Korea?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The discussions that have been continuing since February this year had been finalized and it was for this reason alone that today an announcement has been made about the measures that have been taken.

REPORTER: With regard to Syria, the parliament of the United Kingdom has rejected a resolution concerning military intervention in Syria and Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom has indicated that he has therefore abandoned plans to engage in any military intervention. What is the view of the Government concerning this development in the United Kingdom and will it have any impact on decisions made by the Government of Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are aware of the various debates that are taking place in other countries. As the ministers concerned confirmed the common recognition in our recent meeting, and as I have already indicated, the stance of the Government of Japan is to continue to engage in the collection, analysis and evaluation of intelligence concerning the situation regarding the use of chemical weapons, as well as to continue to cooperate with the international community.

REPORTER: I am sorry to repeat myself, but will the decision made in the United Kingdom have any impact on decisions made by the Government of Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There will be no such impact. As I have already stated, the ministers concerned have confirmed their common recognition with regard to four points, including that the use of chemical weapons is not permissible under any circumstances, that responsibility for the situation lies with the administration of President Al-Assad and that Japan will continue to cooperate closely with the international community. The Government will continue to work with countries concerned and gather intelligence based on these points.

REPORTER: According to some press reports, alongside considerations about the establishment of a "National Security Council" (NSC) for Japan, there are moves to review structures for information crisis management and reorganize the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, creating a new organization to be called the Cabinet Intelligence Bureau. What is the current status of considerations with regard to this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Whatever the case, it is a fact that the international situation and security environment surrounding Japan are becoming increasingly severe and therefore the Government believes it to be of the utmost importance to improve the intelligence gathering capabilities of the Government as a whole. In that sense, it will be essential to strengthen intelligence gathering and analysis functions. That is the basic concept, but despite the press reports to the contrary, no specific decisions have been made regarding the reorganization and restructuring of existing Government bodies.

REPORTER: With regard to Syria, you have stated that there is a high possibility that chemical weapons have been used in Syria. Is this belief based on information Japan has acquired itself, or is it based on information received from the United States?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The information has been obtained through our close cooperation with the various countries concerned, including the United States. The Government has judged from this information that there is a high possibility that chemical weapons have been used.

REPORTER: From a public perspective there is no doubt that chemical weapons have been used in Syria. However looking back to the time of the invasion of Iraq, the United States stated at that time that there was no mistaking that weapons of mass destruction existed. The Government of Japan at the time subsequently announced its support for the United States three hours after military action had been launched. Is there no mistaking on this occasion that chemical weapons have actually been used?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe it to be a fact that there is an extremely high possibility that chemical weapons have been used. However, while continuing to maintain close cooperation with countries concerned we will engage in further intelligence gathering and analysis.

REPORTER: You have said that one of the Prime Minister's instructions with regard to Syria was to consider measures that would help to stabilize the situation in the country. Is the Government therefore contemplating the provision of assistance to the anti-government forces that are currently engaged in civil war against the administration of President Al-Assad?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government's basic position and one that has been implemented to date is to provide humanitarian assistance and based on that position I believe that it will be necessary to provide assistance.

REPORTER: When you say humanitarian assistance, are you contemplating specifically assistance to refugees?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The assistance that Japan has extended to date has been exactly to such people, those who are vulnerable, such as children and refugees. Naturally the Government will be providing humanitarian assistance to such people.

REPORTER: I would like to confirm some recent press reports. In the Republic of Korea (ROK) there has been a spate of court rulings in which Japanese companies, including Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, have been ordered to make compensation payments for forced labour in Korea. There are press reports that suggest that if the companies concerned lose their appeal to the Supreme Court of the ROK, the Government will lodge a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice. What is the actual status of consideration with regard to this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There is no truth behind the press reports that you mention. However, the Government's position on this issue is clear, and we will continue to work in close cooperation with Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, etc., based on our consistent stance that this issue of property claims between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) was resolved with the conclusion of the Agreement Between Japan and the Republic of Korea Concerning the Settlement of Problems in Regard to Property and Claims and Economic Cooperation.