Japan's defense minister cites North Korean missiles in rebuttal of Russia's 'hostile act' warning over drone sales

TOKYO

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi directly rebutted Russia's Foreign Ministry, which said it would regard Japanese company Terra Drone's sales of drones to Ukraine as "hostile acts," at a press conference held after a Cabinet meeting in the lobby of the House of Representatives annex building in Tokyo on the morning of Oct. 23 (local time). Koizumi noted that Russia is one of the world's leading arms exporters, has used North Korean-made missiles and ammunition against Ukraine and has sent North Korean soldiers to the battlefield, and said, "これらは明確な国連決議違反です (These are clear violations of UN resolutions)." That afternoon, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said consular access to a Japanese journalist detained by Russian authorities had still not been granted, and that a Foreign Ministry director-general had again demanded the journalist's immediate release in Moscow.

Koizumi counters by calling Russia "one of the world's leading arms exporters"

The third question at the defense minister's press conference that day concerned Russia. The reporter who asked it said Russia's Foreign Ministry had announced it would regard Japanese company Terra Drone's drone sales to Ukraine as hostile acts and respond firmly, and had described Japanese authorities' attempts to justify the sales as "全く説得力に欠ける (utterly lacking in persuasiveness)," and asked for the minister's view.

Koizumi first addressed the Russian side's phrase "lacking in persuasiveness." Koizumi said, "ロシアは世界中に武器輸出を展開している世界有数の武器輸出国だという事実を受け止めた上で、このコメントを聞くべきだと思います (I think this comment should be heard while accepting the fact that Russia is one of the world's leading arms exporters, exporting weapons all over the world)."

In the press conference transcript released by the Ministry of Defense, the word "Russia" appears only in this exchange. The announcements at the start of the press conference covered two items. Koizumi said Japan had completed coordination with the U.S. side to close "LZ Phoenix," a helicopter landing zone at Camp Schwab, after consolidating the necessary functions through renovation of "LZ Rail." Koizumi then said Finnish Defense Minister Häkkänen is scheduled to visit Japan on the 26th to hold a Japan-Finland defense ministers' meeting. The two preceding questions concerned working-level talks between the Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai on revising the three security documents within the year, and reports of structures resembling Self-Defense Forces aircraft in a Chinese desert area.

Koizumi calls North Korean missiles, ammunition and troop dispatch "clear violations of UN resolutions"

Koizumi then raised the North Korea issue. Koizumi said, "北朝鮮製のミサイル、そして弾薬、これをウクライナに対して使用しているほか、北朝鮮の兵士を戦場に送っており、これらは明確な国連決議違反です (In addition to using North Korean-made missiles and ammunition against Ukraine, it is sending North Korean soldiers to the battlefield, and these are clear violations of UN resolutions)."

Koizumi asked, "こういった事実関係も踏まえて、御指摘のようなコメントを受け止める必要があるのではないでしょうか (Isn't it necessary to take comments like the one you mentioned in light of these facts as well?)"

Koizumi drew a clear line on the activities of Japanese companies. Koizumi said, "日本の民間企業が法律にのっとり活動している限り、問題はないと考えています (As long as Japanese private companies are operating in accordance with the law, I believe there is no problem)." Which models and how many units Terra Drone had transferred, and what specifically the "firm response" mentioned by Russia would involve, were not addressed at the press conference.

Koizumi did not cite the numbers of the UN resolutions said to have been violated.

Motegi sends director-general to Moscow to again demand immediate release

At Motegi's press conference, held in the Foreign Ministry press room at 5:12 p.m. the same day, the first question was about Russia's detention of a Japanese journalist. A Jiji Press reporter asked about the "意義 (significance)" of the European Affairs Bureau director-general traveling to Russia in person to make the demand, and about "日本の申入れに対するロシア側の現在の回答 (the Russian side's current response to Japan's representations)." The Foreign Ministry's press conference record titled the matter "ロシアによる邦人記者拘束事案 (case of the detention of a Japanese journalist by Russia)."

Motegi explained that Kimitake Nakamura (中村仁威), director-general of the Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Bureau, visited Moscow on the 20th and held talks with Vorobyova, director of the Third Department of Russia's Foreign Ministry. Motegi said Japan had been "領事面会の一刻も早い実現、そして邦人の即時開放等を求めてきておりまして (calling for consular access as soon as possible and for the immediate release of the Japanese national, among other things)," and said Nakamura had conveyed these demands to the Russian side again.

Russia's answer was not disclosed. Motegi said, "ロシア側の反応については、外交上のやり取りですので詳細は控えますが (As for the Russian side's reaction, since it is a diplomatic exchange, I will refrain from giving details, but)." Motegi said, "今後も強く領事面会の実現、そして早期の、即時の解放を求めていきたいと思っております (We will continue to strongly call for consular access and for early, immediate release)."

Consular access still not granted more than 10 days into detention

At the Oct. 23 press conference, Motegi said, "昨日、邦人が拘束をされております拘置所を訪問しましたが、これはあくまで差入れを行うということであり、御家族等が御希望される差入れを実際に行いました (Yesterday, we visited the detention facility where the Japanese national is being held, but this was strictly to deliver items, and we actually delivered the items requested by the family and others)." The Japanese side delivered items to the detention facility on the 22nd, but Motegi said, "領事面会はまだ行われておりませんので (Consular access has not yet taken place)," indicating that officials had not been able to meet the journalist in person.

Motegi disclosed the timing of the detention at the Oct. 20 press conference. At that press conference, a Hokkaido Shimbun reporter said that day marked one week since the Federal Security Service (FSB) detained one of the newspaper's male reporters in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in the Russian Far East, and asked for the government's assessment of the failure to hold consular access, which should take place within four days of detention. The reporter added, "早期の面会実現や、記者の早期解放に向けた今後の政府の取組についてお伺いします (I would like to ask about the government's future efforts toward realizing an early meeting and the early release of the reporter)."

Motegi began the answer by saying, "今回の事案を含めて、邦人の保護・安全確保には、全力で取り組んでいるところであります (Including this case, we are making every effort to protect Japanese nationals and ensure their safety)." Motegi explained that the Foreign Ministry had been seeking to "現地時間の10月13日からロシア当局に拘束されている邦人に対して、まずは一刻も早い領事面会を行い (first of all, hold consular access as soon as possible with the Japanese national who has been detained by Russian authorities since Oct. 13 local time)" and confirm the journalist's health condition and understanding of the facts, among other things.

Motegi cited as the treaty basis "日本国とソヴィエト社会主義共和国連邦との間の領事条約の議定書 (the Protocol to the Consular Convention between Japan and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)." Motegi explained that the protocol provides that the right to consular access "逮捕又は拘禁の時から、遅くとも4日までの期間内に行使することができるものと規定されているわけです (is stipulated as able to be exercised within a period of no later than four days from the time of arrest or detention)."

Motegi said, "それにも関わらず、明確な理由が示されないまま、領事面会が実現されていない。このことは極めて遺憾だと考えております (Despite this, consular access has not been realized without any clear reason being given. We consider this extremely regrettable)." Motegi said the ministry had made demands to the Russian side and carried out various arrangements, "先方指定の拘置所への往訪も含めて (including visits to the detention facility designated by the other side)." Motegi said, "邦人の安全確保、これが第一だと考えておりまして (We consider ensuring the safety of the Japanese national to be the top priority)," and said Japan would continue "一刻も早い領事面会の実現、邦人の即時解放、そして、人道的配慮や公正・公平な取扱いをロシア側に強く求めて (strongly calling on the Russian side for consular access as soon as possible, the immediate release of the Japanese national, and humanitarian consideration and fair and equitable treatment)." Motegi also said, "外務省としてできることを、今、全てやっている。このことは間違いありません (We are now doing everything we can as the Foreign Ministry. There is no doubt about this)."