Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: North Korea announced a complete halt of the investigation into abduction victims and other matters. Please explain the Government’s response.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Government thinks it is very regrettable that North Korea unilaterally asserted that Japan officially stated that it is abandoning the Stockholm Agreement, and declared a complete halt of the comprehensive investigation regarding all Japanese people and dismantling of the special investigative committee. We cannot accept North Korea’s announcement in any way and communicated our strong disappointment through the North Korean Embassy in Beijing. We also lodged a serious protest. Furthermore, we explained that Japan does not intend to abandon the Stockholm Agreement and strongly urged North Korea to quickly return all abduction victims to Japan in keeping with the Stockholm Agreement. The abduction issue is a very important issue for the Abe Cabinet. The Government has not changed its stance at all in that we have no intention of abandoning the Stockholm Agreement and we intend to make our utmost efforts to resolve the abduction issue with an approach of applying heavy pressure on North Korea in accordance with the principles of “dialogue and pressure” and “action for action,” while at the same time not closing the window to dialogue from our side.

REPORTER: This is related. Has North Korea officially communicated the content of its latest announcement to Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, it has not.

REPORTER: This is also related. You just mentioned that Japan has no intention of abandoning the Stockholm Agreement. What does the North Korean side think about the Stockholm Agreement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: North Korea unilaterally asserted that Japan officially stated that it is abandoning the Stockholm Agreement and declared a complete halt of the comprehensive investigation regarding all Japanese people and dismantling of the special investigative committee. The Government thinks this is regrettable and lodged a serious protest.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: This is related. Regarding the sanctions on North Korea, there is a media report that the Government intends to allow North Korea’s women’s soccer representatives to enter Japan for the Asia Qualifying Tournament as a special case. What are the facts on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I was asked about this previously and explained that we intend to make specific individual reviews at the time of receiving an entry application. At the same time, our latest measure stipulates that North Korean citizens cannot enter Japan unless under special circumstances. Yet the Government has approved the entry of North Korea’s soccer teams and table tennis teams in the past because of special circumstances in light of FIFA rules and other agreements. In any case, we will review the circumstances when an entry application is received.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question on the economy. Real GDP data for October-December 2015 released today reported a 1.4% annualized decline. This is a return to negative growth for the first time in two quarters. What is your impression?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The GDP growth rate for October-December 2015 released today was a 1.4% annualized decline as you just said. As background, personal consumption fell 0.8% from the previous quarter due to a substantial drop in sales of winter clothing affected by the historically warm winter and other factors. Regarding Japan’s economic conditions, corporate profits remained at a high level in October-December even amid volatility in financial market trends related to global risk-avoidance moves. The ratio of job offers to job seekers is also at the highest level in 24 years, an increase of 27%. At any rate, corporate earnings and employment and income environments continue to improve. I think Japan has healthy economic fundamentals, and previous positive conditions have not changed. I also expect a moderate recovery by economic activity, including support from various policy effects, amid ongoing improvements in employment and income environments. We will also be carefully monitoring trends in China, resource-producing countries readily affected by global economic fluctuations, and emerging countries.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question about the Zika virus in Brazil. There is a report of a 14% rise in newborns with microcephaly, which is thought to be related, to 462 individuals and 91 deaths. Is the Government thinking about some type of response for cooperation with the Brazilian government related to development of a vaccine or improvement of testing capabilities in light of the current situation of not having drugs?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government recently held detailed discussions on global infectious disease measures at a meeting of related Ministers in light of the Zika virus situation in Central and South America, the WHO’s Public Health Emergency declaration, and other aspects. It reconfirmed at the Meeting of the Ministerial Council that the Government would firmly respond with robust measures at the border, establishment of testing and treatment capabilities in Japan, prompt and appropriate provision of information to pregnant women and other travelers to Central and South America, and research and development on a vaccine and medications. Based on this decision, I expect the respective ministries and agencies to thoroughly carry out their respective tasks and prevent the virus from spreading in Japan.