Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved five general and other measures, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Minister Arimura made a statement concerning a report on the reemployment status of national public servants and the release of this report pursuant to the provisions of Article 106-25, Paragraph 1 of the National Public Service Act and other relevant legislation; the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the allocation of the fiscal 2014 special tax grants for reconstruction for September; Minister Arimura made a statement concerning the holding of the Autumn 2014 National Traffic Safety Campaign and the “Zero Traffic Accident Fatality Day”; the Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission made a statement concerning the holding of the Autumn 2014 National Traffic Safety Campaign; the Minister for Foreign Affairs made statements concerning the Emergency Grant Aid in response to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq and Syrian Refugees in Lebanon affected by the “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” (ISIL) offensive and the Emergency Grant Aid for Yemen to support the constitution-making process; and Prime Minister Abe made statements concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits, among other matters.

I have an announcement regarding the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice that was decided at today’s Cabinet meeting. As Supreme Court Justice Tomoyuki Yokota will be retiring due to reaching the retirement age, it was decided that Mr. Masayuki Ikegami, former Superintending Prosecutor of the Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office, would be appointed as Supreme Court Justice to replace Mr. Yokota.

I have an announcement regarding the abduction issue. Japan and North Korea have been in communication with each other through the embassy channel in Beijing about the report on the investigations of North Korea’s Special Investigation Committee. Japan made inquiries to North Korea, including about the status of the execution of our May agreement and the timing of the submission of the first report on the investigations. North Korea notified to us the following: “The Special Investigation Committee is conducting investigations on all Japanese nationals in good faith. The goal is to complete the entire investigations in around one year. The investigations are still in an early stage. As of now, we cannot provide any explanation beyond this. Japan deems that North Korea should swiftly conduct comprehensive and full-scale investigations on all Japanese nationals, including victims of abduction, and report the results promptly. Japan has fully informed North Korea of our consciousness of the issues. North Korea needs to promptly provide us with a more detailed explanation of the current status of the investigations. The two sides will be coordinating on how to proceed through the embassy channel in Beijing.

Q&As

• The issue of the Investigation Committee for the abduction by North Korea
• The situation in Ukraine
• The issue of the Japan’s research whaling
• The Emergency Grant Aid for Iraq and neighboring countries
• The former Prime Minister Mori’s visit to ROK

REPORTER: I have a question regarding this matter of the Investigation Committee for the abduction issue. I would like to ask you, frankly, if it is correct to understand that the release of the first report on the Investigation Committee’s investigations has been delayed. In other words, is it correct to understand that the timing will no longer be between the end of the summer and early autumn?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, in the course of our communication with North Korea, the two sides in July shared the view that North Korea would release the first report sometime between the end of the summer and around early autumn. But at this point in time, North Korea notified to us that as of now, it cannot provide an explanation beyond the early-stage results of the investigations. Accordingly, the timing of the first report on the investigation results is currently uncertain. Nonetheless, Japan will be requesting that North Korea provide a more detailed explanation of the current status of the investigations, and expect to receive this explanation from North Korea at an early date. The two sides will be coordinating on how to proceed through the embassy channel.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Has North Korea given any reasons for its inability to provide explanations at this point in time?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, so as I said, North Korea needs to promptly provide us with a more detailed explanation of the current status of the investigations. Therefore, we have begun coordinating on this and other details through the embassy channel in Beijing.

REPORTER: To confirm then, you are saying that North Korea offered no explanations whatsoever?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is correct. As of now, we have received no explanation.

REPORTER: A short while ago, you stated that Japan would request that North Korea to provide a more detailed explanation. By this are you referring to the ongoing coordination among working-level officials? Is this explanation separate from the so-called first report?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan will request that North Korea promptly provide a detailed explanation of the current status of the investigations. We will be coordinating on how to proceed through the embassy channel in Beijing.

REPORTER: If I could ask for very specific details, when did North Korea inform Japan via the embassy channel?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It was yesterday.

REPORTER: Yesterday?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes.

REPORTER: Although Japan partially lifted its sanctions against North Korea, will the Japanese Government be making any changes to this approach as a result of North Korea’s latest response?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We will be making no changes at all. First of all, we were able to find a way to open a door that had been firmly closed for many years. On this basis, the Japan-North Korea negotiations were started. North Korea has reported that it launched the Special Investigation Committee and is conducting investigations. Therefore, the Japanese Government deems that North Korea needs to promptly provide us with further explanations of the current status of the investigations. Thus now we are coordinating on this and other details.

REPORTER: To confirm, you have no intention then of strengthening the sanctions you lifted, that is, to re-implement the original sanctions?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We have no such intentions whatsoever. After all, the negotiations have just started. North Korea stated that the investigations are in the early stages and that it is still unable to offer explanations. Nonetheless, at the same time, North Korea informed us that the investigations are indeed being conducted. The Government will be requesting that North Korea explain the current status of the investigations.

REPORTER: I have two related questions. When you say you will be requesting that North Korea explain the current status of the investigations, does this mean that the explanation may also include the investigation results that have come to light so far?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, the investigations of the Special Investigation Committee have begun. The Government will request that North Korea promptly explain what sort of investigations are being conducted and other specifics. Such matters will be coordinated through the embassy channel in Beijing.

REPORTER: In connection to this, do you envision the existing director-general level consultations to be the forum for obtaining information on the progress of the investigations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, the Government intends to promptly obtain a detailed explanation of the current status of the investigations. The two sides are now coordinating on how to proceed through the embassy channel in Beijing.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Initially, North Korea said between the end of the summer and early autumn. But currently, yesterday in fact, North Korea said it was unable to offer explanations at this moment in time. Furthermore, it did not explain why it was unable to offer explanations. What is your personal opinion on North Korea’s current attitude and response?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At the start of the investigations, North Korea did in fact say between the end of the summer and early autumn. But yesterday North Korea informed us of two items. One is that North Korea is proceeding with the investigations of the Special Investigation Committee in good faith. Secondly, for the first time North Korea gave a deadline of around one year. North Korea said it aims to complete the investigations in around one year, that the investigations are currently in the early stages, and that it cannot provide explanations beyond the early-stage results. As North Korea said it is proceeding with the investigations in good faith, the Government of Japan will be requesting that North Korea promptly explain how the investigations are being conducted and the current status of the investigations.

REPORTER: I have a question concerning this matter. It seems to me that North Korea reneged on an agreement over timing. Is it Japan’s opinion that this does not warrant doubts about North Korea’s level of commitment to the investigations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan will be requesting that North Korea promptly explain what sort of investigations it has been conducting and other such specifics. We anticipate that more information will be revealed through this process. As North Korea informed us only that the investigations of the Special Investigation Committee were being conducted in good faith, it is only natural that Japan request that North Korea explain how exactly the investigations are being conducted.   

REPORTER: I would like to confirm what sort of negotiations are taking place through the embassy channel. Does this mean, for example, that information is not being exchanged on such details as what the victims of abduction, the “unidentified missing Japanese probably related to North Korea,” and other Japanese nationals are doing, and where they are?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, Japan is now requesting that North Korea explain the details of the ongoing investigations of its Special Investigation Committee.

REPORTER: Changing the subject, I have a question regarding the situation in Ukraine. President Obama of the United States held a meeting with President Poroshenko of Ukraine and explained the status of the responses taken by each country. What is the status of Japan’s considerations for strengthening its sanctions?  

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have stated here from before, the basic policy of Japan is to deal with the situation appropriately in view of the situation in Ukraine, including the situation surrounding the ceasefire, and the responses taken by the United States and the European Union, while placing importance on our partnership with the G7. We will be dealing with the situation in this context.

REPORTER: Regarding a different topic, a majority of the delegates of the International Whaling Commission voted in favor of a draft resolution that de facto extends the moratorium on Japan’s research whaling. This resolution is not legally binding. How will Japan be proceeding from here?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As you mentioned now in your question, this resolution is not legally binding. Japan voted against this resolution as it conflicts with the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as well as the provisions of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW), which give a degree of discretion to Contracting Governments with respect to the granting of special permits. The adoption of this resolution is deeply regrettable. Japan will steadily proceed with the preparations to carry out a new Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic from FY2015, in a manner that takes into account the ICJ judgment. Japan considers that its activities fully conform to international law and the provisions of ICRW, which are based on scientific evidence. Japan will continue to make a firm response.     

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question in relation to ISIL. During ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting earlier today, I believe the Minister for Foreign Affairs spoke about Emergency Grant Aid for Iraq and neighboring countries. Can you please elaborate?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At the Cabinet meeting a short while ago, the Minister for Foreign Affairs stated as follows. Japan decided to extend Emergency Grant Aid of US$22.70 million to six international organizations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to support IDPs and others in Iraq affected by the ISIL offensive as well as Syrian refugees and others who have fled to Lebanon. Furthermore, Japan decided to extend Emergency Grant Aid of US$1 million in order to support public education efforts in the lead-up to the constitutional referendum in the Republic of Yemen. The Emergency Grant Aids were then approved by the Cabinet.

REPORTER: If I may change the topic, former Prime Minister Mori will be meeting with President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea (ROK) today. Reports say that former Prime Minister Mori will be giving the President a letter from Prime Minister Abe. Is this true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, it is true that there exist challenging issues between Japan and the ROK. However, I believe that is precisely why it is extremely important for us to communicate closely at various levels. Under such circumstances, the Government of Japan welcomes former Prime Minister Mori’s courtesy call on President Park Geun-hye. The Government also hopes that this courtesy call will lead to an improvement in Japan-ROK relations. I am aware that former Prime Minister Mori has with him a letter from Prime Minister Abe.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Maybe you cannot tell us, but if you can, could you share with us the content of the letter? Also, Japan-ROK Director-General level consultations are taking place. What is your outlook on the realization of a Japan-ROK summit meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from disclosing the content of the letter. In any case, as I stated at the outset, we believe that the leaders need to meet, precisely because there exist various issues between the two countries. The door for dialogue is always open. Japan will work to realize a summit meeting based on this stance.

REPORTER: What about the outlook on the summit meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Various meetings have begun, including at the foreign minister-level and at the vice foreign minister-level. Against this backdrop, our view is that a summit meeting should be held, precisely because of the issues that exist. This remains completely unchanged.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: If I may, I would like to return to the abduction issue. I presume that from the time that the Investigation Committee was launched, one of the issues facing the Japanese Government was the question of how we could commit to the North Korea’s investigations. And this is how North Korea has initially responded. Although they are probably conducting the investigations in good faith, I gather that as yet there is nothing to guarantee that this is the case – or at least nothing that we are aware of. As we proceed with the investigations, is the existing method really satisfactory? What is your opinion on the matter at this point in time?  

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Channels for negotiation were closed for many years. This has now been opened up for the first time. When I said to North Korea that the investigations should be completed in around one year, North Korea agreed that the investigations should not become prolonged and set a deadline for the first time. Japan went into the negotiations knowing from the start that they would not be that simple. The Government will consider what will be most effective and other such aspects from a variety of perspectives as we resolutely move forward with the negotiations. The Government will work to ensure the resolution of issues related to Japanese nationals as quickly as possible, including the issues of the victims of abduction, the “unidentified missing Japanese probably related to North Korea,” the visits to graveyards, and “Japanese spouses.” In particular, North Korea abducted Japanese nationals over many years in violation of the sovereignty of Japan.

REPORTER: Based on what you just said then, there are two targets. The first is between the end of the summer and early autumn, and the second is within one year. Based on what you just said, is it correct to understand that you prioritize the commitment to one year?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is not really the case. The sooner the better.

REPORTER: The sooner the better.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government perceives that North Korean authorities know the whereabouts of all of the abductees. In this sense, we hope North Korea will work with us in good faith. North Korea’s latest reply was that it is proceeding with the investigations in good faith. North Korea also informed us that it aims to complete the investigations in around one year and is thus still unable to explain anything beyond the early-stage results. The Government of Japan must request that North Korea promptly explain what sort of investigations it is conducting and other specifics regarding the current investigations. Therefore, the two sides are now coordinating through the embassy channel. 

REPORTER: If I may confirm once again, you said that Japan would be requesting that North Korea promptly provide explanations. By “promptly,” can I assume you mean sometime around this month or next month?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from giving any timeframe. The Government will definitely strongly request that North Korea promptly explain what sort of investigations it is conducting and other specifics regarding the current status of the investigations.