Press Conference by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issue of North Korea’s reinvestigation
• The Japan-Republic of Korea Vice Foreign Minister-Level meeting
• The large-scale demonstrations taking place in Hong Kong

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the issue of North Korea’s reinvestigations. Officials from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs who took part in the negotiations have returned to Japan. What is the current situation?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: It is as the Chief Cabinet Secretary stated during this morning’s press conference. In the middle of this month, North Korea informed us that it was unable to provide explanations beyond the early-stage results of the investigations. For this reason, we held the meeting yesterday to receive North Korea’s explanation of the current status of the investigations. I understand that sincere and serious discussions took place in the morning and afternoon for a total of 4.5 hours. Neither the Prime Minister nor the Chief Cabinet Secretary has yet been briefed about the meeting. I believe the plenary session of the House of Representatives has just finished, and the Prime Minister and the Chief Cabinet Secretary will be briefed on the content of the meeting this evening. I imagine we will then make a decision on how to proceed from there. 

REPORTER: I have a related question. Can we expect that a briefing of some kind will be held for us or the people? 

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: I believe that primarily it will be the Prime Minister and the Chief Cabinet Secretary who will determine how the Government will issue an explanation. This will take place after they have been briefed on the content of the meeting from Director-General Ihara of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau.

REPORTER: My question concerns the Prime Minister. At times during today’s plenary session the Prime Minister started coughing while answering the questions from party leaders. The Prime Minister still seems to be suffering from his cold. Can you please tell us his current health status if there is anything you are aware of?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: I was travelling with the Prime Minister in New York, and he seemed to have a very good appetite. Aside from a slight cough, I believe there is nothing to worry about. I suspect that it is merely taking a little while for his cold symptoms to go away.

REPORTER: I understand that a Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) vice foreign minister-level meeting will be held tomorrow. With the foreign ministers’ meeting also taking place recently, there are growing expectations that a summit meeting will be held. Can you please comment on this? 

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: The Japan-ROK Vice-Ministerial Strategic Dialogue will be held tomorrow. Attending from Japan will be Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki. Attending from the ROK will be 1st Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yong. In principle, during the dialogue, the two sides will hold a full and frank exchange of opinions from a strategic perspective regarding the regional situation, including overall Japan-ROK relations and the North Korea issue, and a broad set of issues concerning the international community. I expect a lively discussion to take place between the two Vice Ministers.  

REPORTER: The U.S. Government has expressed support for the large-scale demonstrations taking place in Hong Kong against the restrictions that have been placed on the candidate nominations for the election of the next Chief Executive. What is the position of the Japanese Government?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: Japan hopes that Hong Kong will continue to maintain its free and open system under the one country, two systems structure as has been the case up to the present day, and that Japan and Hong Kong can maintain and deepen our close relationship. Hong Kong’s future is a major concern to Japan. We consider democratic prosperity and stability in Hong Kong as playing a vital role for Asia-Pacific countries, including Japan.

REPORTER: Regarding this matter, it seems that the demonstrations in Hong Kong are affecting the public transport system, as well as having a variety of other impacts. What is the impact on Japanese nationals? How will the Government be addressing such impacts?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: So far, no incidents involving Japanese nationals have been confirmed in connection with this matter. Nevertheless, as a very large number of Japanese companies do business in Hong Kong and many Japanese nationals live in the country, on the 28th and 29th, the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong sent out alert e-mails and other information to Japanese nationals living in Hong Kong. 

REPORTER: Is it correct to understand that the Japanese Government will not comment outright on whether it supports or does not support the demonstrations?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: It is as I stated a short while ago. We hope that Hong Kong will continue to maintain its free and open system under the one country, two systems structure as has been the case up to the present day.

REPORTER: I would like to return to the first question regarding the Japan-North Korea meeting. During this morning’s press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga stated that the Government will disclose the content of the meeting in an appropriate manner. If I may inquire about the specific details, at this point in time, has anything been decided regarding who will release this information and how it will be released?   

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: As I stated earlier, I imagine that this will be decided after the Prime Minister and the Chief Cabinet Secretary are first briefed about the details of the meeting this evening.