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 two general measures, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Minister Arimura made a statement concerning a report on the reemployment situation of national public servants pursuant to the provision of Article 106-25, Paragraph 1 of the National Public Service Act and other provisions. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made statements concerning the 2014 White Paper on Fire and Disaster Management and the preliminary results of the 2011 Input-Output Tables.

I would like to announce a personnel appointment at the Cabinet Office that was decided during today’s Cabinet meeting. Effective December 31, Mr. Takao Kuramochi, Director General for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, will be assigned to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Mr. Kuramochi will be replaced by Mr. Koichi Morimoto, Deputy Director General for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, effective January 1. 

Q&As

• The issue of verification of the STAP cells
• The adoption of a resolution condemning human rights violations in North Korea by UN General Assembly

REPORTER: A short while ago, RIKEN formally announced the results of its experiments to verify whether the stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells discovered by a team led by Dr. Haruko Obokata exist or not. RIKEN said that it was unable to create the cells and that it would terminate the experiments. This matter has left a sizable blemish on the credibility of Japanese scientific research, an area in which Japan is considered a world leader. What is your view of the situation?   

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware that this morning, RIKEN is holding a press conference regarding the results of its verification experiments on the STAP phenomenon. However, as I believe the press conference is going on as we speak, for more information I ask that you please direct your questions to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

REPORTER: The Plenary Meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly has adopted a resolution condemning human rights violations in North Korea and requesting the resolution of the abduction issue, among other matters. The resolution contained serious measures. For example, for the first time it encouraged the Security Council to consider referral of the human rights violations in North Korea to the International Criminal Court. What are your expectations in terms of how the resolution’s adoption will contribute to resolving the issue of abductions by North Korea?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, we highly commend the adoption today (Japan time) by majority vote of the Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK at the Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly that is currently being held. We perceive that the adoption of the draft resolution demonstrates the international community’s concerns about human rights violations in North Korea, including the abductions issue. Japan will continue to make efforts to improve the situation of the human rights in North Korea, including the early resolution of the abductions issue, in cooperation with the international community.