Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• A supreme court case regarding the auction sale of the head office of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan
• The issue of coral poaching
• The issue regarding the noise complaint cases pertaining to the bases of the U.S. Forces in Japan
• The issue of Takeshima
• The U.S. midterm elections

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the auction sale of the land and building of the head office of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). The Supreme Court rejected North Korea’s appeal against the sale, making the sale of the property to Marunaka Holdings Co. final. North Korea has expressed strong concerns over the ruling. Can you please comment on this matter, including its impacts on future Japan-North Korea consultations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan is country which exists under rule of law. As the relevant procedures were taken under the supervision of the court, the Government would like to refrain from making comments.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Today, at a liaison meeting of the Government and ruling parties, with regard to the reinvestigation of the abduction issue, the Prime Minister stated that the Government would do what is best to resolve this issue while taking into consideration a range of options. North Korea has repeatedly requested the Japanese Government to deal prudently with this matter, contending that the issue of the sale of the Chongryon head office building is the prime issue concerning the status of Korean residents in Japan. Will the “range of options” that the Prime Minister referred to include responses to this issue of the sale of the Chongryon head office building? Is it the case that this possibility cannot be eliminated? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government cannot take measures arbitrarily. We are talking about a court ruling after all. It is totally out of the question for the Government to comment on cases under judicial proceedings. This is logical in Japan, a country which exists under rule of law.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Let us leave aside the issue of whether Marunaka will or will not purchase the property, and let us leave aside the judicial proceedings. The Chongryon head office building will now be transferred to a private organization. In response to this, the handover of the building will probably continue to be requested. How will the Government be responding to this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated a short while ago, the Government cannot and should not comment on cases under judicial proceedings. I believe the public will fully understand this. As to what happens from here, as it was decided that the building would be sold to Marunaka, it will be up to Marunaka to decide. The Government has no say about who purchases the property.

REPORTER: Are you saying that the Government will not be urging Marunaka to act in a specific way?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Absolutely not.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding this matter. Obviously the Government cannot influence Marunaka, and obviously there is judicial independence. However, looking at the facts objectively, in your mind what impact will this matter have on the issue of abductions by North Korea?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is out of the question for the Government to comment on cases under judicial proceedings. During the government-level negotiations, Japan made it very clear to North Korea what our views were as a law-abiding country, as well as the fact that the Government cannot comment on cases under judicial proceedings.

REPORTER: Will this matter not have any adverse effects on the resolution of the abduction issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not expect it will. It was made clear from the start of the consultations that the Japanese Government will not be involved in any way. It was made clear that the Japanese Government cannot do anything with regard to cases under judicial proceedings. Therefore, I deem that there will be no impact.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning coral poaching around the Ogasawara Islands. During this morning’s press conference, you said that the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) was taking special response. In order to strengthen the monitoring arrangements, do you have any plans to, for example, establish a supplementary budget or appropriate funds in next fiscal year’s regular budget?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We consider that we need to do as much as we can, including the addition of personnel, with respect to the responses of the JCG on the whole.

REPORTER: What about the budget?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That too, of course.

REPORTER: My question regards the noise complaint cases pertaining to the bases of the U.S. Forces in Japan. There are 13 cases nationwide for which final rulings have ordered the payment of compensation to surrounding residents. The United States has not paid its portion of the compensation as provided for in the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Based on our investigation, it has come to light that Japan has shouldered the burden of approximately 22.1 billion yen in total. Japan may have shouldered the burden of at least 11.2 billion yen that the United States should have paid. Is this true? What is the Government’s view regarding this matter? How will the Government be dealing with this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government of Japan is requesting the U.S. Government to pay its share of the compensation, and has held a series of talks with the U.S. Government on this basis. To date, the two sides have been unable to reach an agreement due to differences in our positions. The Japanese Government will be holding talks with the U.S. government in order to settle the differences in our positions.

REPORTER: Can you clarify what you mean by “differences in positions”?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Ever since the Supreme Court issued its rulings on the noise complaint cases involving the U.S. Forces, Japan and the United States have consistently held talks regarding the sharing of the compensation payments in accordance with SOFA. However, we have not yet achieved a resolution due to differences in our positions. Therefore, we will continue to hold negotiations.

REPORTER: It has been revealed that the Republic of Korea (ROK) cancelled a tender for the construction of an evacuation facility which was supposed to be built in Takeshima. Do you know if this is true? Also, can you please share your reaction to this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan is aware of the media reports regarding the matter involving Takeshima. We have asserted at a variety of levels that Japan cannot accept any ROK enterprises in Takeshima, including the facility in question. I perceive that, as reported in the media, it was in this context that the project was cancelled. 

REPORTER: Some media reported that the cancellation was decided as Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se and other ROK officials deemed that a diplomatic confrontation with Japan should be avoided. Do you consider that this decision was good for Japan-ROK relations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Takeshima is an inherent part of the territory of Japan, in light of historical facts and based on international law. Japan will continue to seek the settlement of the dispute on the basis of international law in a calm and peaceful manner. Japan has explained this consistently, and I gather that it was in this context that the ROK made its decision.

REPORTER: I would like to once again ask about the consumption tax increase. During this morning’s press conference, you said that the Prime Minister would make a decision by the end of the year based on the GDP estimates for November and December. Does that mean that the final decision will be made after December 8, the date that the second preliminary estimates will be released?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is correct.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the U.S. midterm elections, about which questions were also asked during this morning’s press conference. Leading U.S. media outlets are reporting that the Republican Party is likely to win a majority in both the House of Representatives and Senate. Can you once again share your views?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are aware of this outlook. However, the Government would like to refrain from making comments on overseas elections. Japan-U.S. relations indeed constitute a cornerstone of Japan’s diplomacy. Therefore, Japan will continue to deepen cooperation and ties with the United States. This remains completely unchanged. 

REPORTER: In connection with this matter, I would like to ask about the impact of the midterm elections on Japan-U.S. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. The view within the Japanese Government seemed to be that there would not be any developments until the midterm elections were over. Now that the midterm elections are finished, how are the negotiations expected to proceed based on the election results? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I think that is a domestic matter of the United States. Japan will assert what needs to be asserted. We consider the TPP to have huge potential in the sense of catalyzing the economic growth of this region. Japan will continue to work hard to be able to reach an agreement. Our position has not changed at all.

REPORTER: I have a related question. The Republican Party pursues trade liberalization proactively. With the Republican Party capturing the majority of both the House and Senate seats, some analysts forecast that Japan will face stronger U.S. pressure to eliminate its tariffs. What is your opinion in this regard?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This is a matter which is being negotiated between the two governments. Japan’s position remains unchanged.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to return to the earlier question regarding the poaching of coral. Typhoon No. 20’s projected path overlaps with the areas where coral poaching vessels have been sighted, raising concerns among residents. During this morning’s press conference, you said that Japan would not allow such vessels to come ashore. If there are any new measures that the Government is considering, can you please share them with us?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As of 6 am, November 5, approximately 200 vessels are evacuating from the typhoon in Japan’s territorial waters southeast of the Ogasawara Islands. In addition, approximately 20 vessels are roaming in territorial waters. JCG patrol vessels are instructing vessels to evacuate and stay away from the typhoon’s path.

REPORTER: You have not changed your intention of not allowing the vessels to come ashore?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This position has not changed at all.