Home > News > Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary > June 2014 > Wednesday, June 25, 2014 (AM)
Wednesday, June 25, 2014 (AM)
Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)
[Provisional Translation]
Q&As
- The relation between Japan and North Korea
- The reaction of the stock markets
REPORTER: I have a question concerning Japan-North Korea relations. Nine family members of Japanese people who passed away in what is now the territory of North Korea around the end of the war have departed from Haneda airport today. They are headed for North Korea to visit the graveyards of their family members. The investigation that North Korea has agreed to implement includes the issues of Japanese remains in North Korea and investigations of graveyards. What expectations does the Government have? Is any reaction expected from the North Korean side?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: My understanding is that this is a normal visit to a graveyard and that it had already been arranged previously.
REPORTER: There are reports that the Japan-North Korea Government-level consultations will be held on July 1 and 2. What is the status of arrangements for these consultations?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have received a report that currently the Governments of Japan and North Korea are in the final coordination phase regarding the specific timing and venue for the next round of consultations. Assuming the consultations go ahead, I am aware that the Japanese delegation will be headed by Director-General Ihara of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the representative of the North Korean delegation will be Ambassador Song Il Ho of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Korea.
(Abridged)
REPORTER: It is slightly disappointing to see that despite the fact that Prime Minister Abe announced the Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform, and the Japan Revitalization Strategy yesterday the reaction of the stock markets seems to have been somewhat subdued. What are your views on this point?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would question whether that is actually the case. Given that the stock market in the United States dropped overnight I would have expected that under normal circumstances the downturn in the Japanese stock market would have been greater than it actually was. Therefore I take this to imply that the growth strategy is being viewed in a positive light by the markets.
