Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary(PM)(Excerpt)

Q&As
・The issue related to final disposal of high-level nuclear waste
・The issues related to North Korea
(Abridged)

REPORTER: I understand that during this morning's Inter-Ministerial Council for the Final Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste, it was agreed that procedures for the final disposal of high-level nuclear waste are to be revised. I believe that it is rather unusual for a decision to be made after only one meeting. In fact, did you expedite the process to reach a conclusion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We had been encouraging municipalities to voluntarily nominate themselves, but this morning we agreed that the Government will be responsible for determining potential sites based on scientific perspectives. The Government will then take the initiative and concentrate our efforts to obtain understanding of the selected municipalities. This is what we agreed upon this morning. That is, previously, even if municipalities had voluntarily nominated their sites, we then conduct assessments using scientific methodology to determine the appropriateness of the sites. Today we agreed that the national government would be responsible for conducting scientific investigations and concentrating our efforts on leading talks to gain the understanding of the municipalities in question. This is what we agreed upon this morning, and I do not believe that there is anything unusual about reaching a decision such as this after one meeting.

REPORTER: On a related note, I understand that the Government's policy has changed and it will now take the initiative. Do the comments of former Prime Minister Koizumi regarding processing sites have anything to do with this policy change?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, the comments have had no influence. There was one municipality that voluntarily nominated its site. However, even if a municipality nominated a site like this, an investigation would be required to determine the suitability of the site. Therefore, we believe that this conventional method is simply not practical. The national government must be responsible for determining potential sites after assessing various sites across Japan and then seek the understanding of those selected. In a sense, it is our belief that this should be the stance of a responsible government.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning North Korea. Today marks the second anniversary of General Secretary Kim Jong-Il's death, for which a national memorial ceremony was held in Pyongyang. The editorial in the newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea glorified the late Kim Jong-Il, saying that he oversaw the rise of North Korea to a country with a global military force and majestic nuclear power. What is the Japanese Government's view of the late Kim Jong-Il and the current situation in North Korea?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As for the Japanese Government's view of the late Kim Jong-Il, former Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea, I would like to refrain from providing definitive comments. However, it is a fact that under the leadership of Kim Jong-Il, despite the repeated protests of the international community, North Korea proceeded with its nuclear weapons and missile development programs, consequently causing instability in the region, and resolution of the abduction issue did not seem forthcoming. In this sense, Japan will continue to maintain a policy of dialogue and pressure to comprehensively resolve the outstanding issues of concern such as the abduction, nuclear and missile issues, in line with the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question on a related topic. Following the execution of Jang Sung-taek, former Vice-Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea, the Japanese Government has been gathering and analyzing information concerning the North Korean situation. Do you have an impression at this time that the resolution of the abduction, nuclear and missile issues has moved even further out of reach?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan has been striving to gain and analyze information through cooperation with relevant nations at this point. However, the Government unwaveringly retains our stance of addressing the situation through a policy of dialogue and pressure to enable the comprehensive resolution of the outstanding issues of concern such as the abduction, nuclear and missile issues.

(Abridged)