Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The launch of the ballistic missiles by North Korea
• The impact of the missile launch to the investigations of the abductees
• Illustration of an atomic mushroom cloud published by Chinese newspaper

REPORTER: This morning, North Korea launched ballistic missiles. Can you please tell us what the Government of Japan knows at this time and how you will be responding?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It appears that today, from around 4 am to around 4:20 am, North Korea launched several ballistic missiles from southwest North Korea in a northeastern direction. It is estimated that the ballistic missiles launched flew a maximum distance of about 500 km and fell into the Sea of Japan. We are currently analyzing the details, and at this time, Japan would like to refrain from answering any questions regarding the intentions and aims of North Korea’s ballistic missile launches. These missile launches are in violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2094, which decides that North Korea shall not conduct any launches that use ballistic missile technology. At 6:32 am local time, Japan lodged a strong protest with North Korea through the embassy channel. 

REPORTER: I have a related question. By embassy, do you mean the Japanese embassy in Beijing?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes.

REPORTER: North Korea has set up the Special Investigation Committee and begun its investigations into the abductees. In your opinion, what impact will the missile launches have on the Japan-North Korea Government-level consultations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, as I stated, today’s launches are in violation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions which have been adopted to date. With regard to the fact that North Korea proceeded with the ballistic missile launches despite our repeated protests, Japan is lodging a strong protest with North Korea as I explained moments ago. As for the recent Japan-North Korea agreement, North Korea has just launched the Special Investigation Committee and started its investigations. There is no change to Japan’s position to carefully examine the progress of North Korea’s investigations.

REPORTER: I have a related question. The Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) announced that North Korea launched two missiles. Is this correct?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: North Korea launched either two missiles or three missiles and we are analyzing this now.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: If I recall correctly, Japan suspended the Japan-North Korea Governmental consultations when North Korea launched ballistic missiles during the Noda administration. Japan has lodged protests repeatedly, but they are being ignored. If Japan continues to hold the Japan-North Korea Governmental consultations, it could lead to Japan acknowledging North Korea’s ballistic missile launches as fait accompli. Although I realize that this is a difficult issue, could you please share your views on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated moments ago, there is no change to the Government’s position to carefully examine the progress of North Korea’s investigations.

REPORTER: If Japan does not lodge a protest or do anything, even though North Korea is conducting launches in violation of U.N. resolutions, would North Korea not understand this to mean that they can get away with launching missiles of this scale?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government remains steadfast in lodging protests. Also, Japan has not lifted any sanctions pertaining to the violation of U.N. resolutions.

REPORTER: On this same topic, despite Japan’s repeated protests, North Korea keeps ignoring them and conducting missile launches. Is the Government considering any measures other than protests?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan also lodged a protest recently on the occasion of the Japan-North Korea Governmental consultations. Japan will continue to take all opportunities to lodge protests. This stance remains unchanged.
 
REPORTER: You did not comment on the aim of today’s launches at the beginning of the press conference, but do you perceive that there was any kind of purpose to them that is related to Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At this time, Japan would like to refrain from responding to questions about the intentions and aims of North Korea’s launches.

REPORTER: At the risk of repeating myself, North Korea has continued to launch a series of missiles. Nevertheless, if I am not mistaken, the Japanese Government has never analyzed them, or rather, made its analyses public.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Of course we have analyzed them. However, Japan would like to refrain from answering questions about them here.

REPORTER: Regarding a related matter, this morning, Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Defense Takeda indicated that today’s launches might have been test missile launches. Is this the view of the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are analyzing this now and would like to refrain from answering questions about the intentions and aims of North Korea’s launches.

REPORTER: If I may just confirm, North Korea’s Special Investigation Committee is expected to submit a report between the end of the summer and early autumn. Are you saying that the Japanese Government will gauge the progress of the investigations up until the report is submitted, then after this, depending on the content of the report, and also taking into consideration the missile issue, the schedule of the investigations could be affected?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated earlier, we will be carefully examining the progress of the investigations. After all the investigations have just started.

REPORTER: Yesterday, a Chinese newspaper called Chongqing Youth Daily published illustrations of an atomic mushroom cloud over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Can you please explain how the Japanese Government has subsequently responded, including whether or not it has lodged a protest?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The illustrations for the article dated July 3 were extremely thoughtless and are of a nature that would incense the atomic bomb survivors, who have experienced unbearable hardships, as well as their families. As the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings in war, Japan cannot tolerate this. In this regard, based on the instructions given by Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida, the Consul General of Japan to Chongqing lodged a strong protest with the editor in chief of Chongqing Youth Daily on July 8.