Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Press Conference 27 March 2003
Q: Tomorrow is the launch of the information-gathering satellites. I believe the launch is at 10:20?
Mr. Takashima: Tomorrow at 10:27 or later, but no later than 10:44.
Q: Obviously this launch comes at a time of tension on the Korean Peninsula and it is difficult to judge how North Korea would react to the launch of a Japanese missile. Interestingly enough, when they launched the Taepodong in 1998, they clamed that it was also a space launch of a satellite. In view of that, are you raising security for this launch beyond the level for a normal launch? Also, are the country's Self-Defense Forces going to be put on a higher status of alert?
Mr. Takashima: The reason why we decided to develop a satellite monitoring system is that we thought, and we still believe, that the situation surrounding Japan and the Japanese archipelago requires constant close monitoring. Furthermore, the Government of Japan thought that because of the natural characteristics of the Japanese archipelago, a better monitoring system of large-scale disasters, such as earthquakes or eruptions of volcanoes, would be necessary to cope with such situations. Based upon that kind of judgment, we decided to develop and set up a satellite monitoring system. It has no intention of being hostile toward any country. This is simply aimed to increase our own capability to ensure better security and better means to cope with that sort of natural disaster. We believe that any criticism from North Korea or any other country is not justified.
Q: When you actually launch the satellite itself, will you be taking any security precautions? I ask this because the time of the launch was actually only announced yesterday whilst usually such launch announcements are made much more in advance. Obviously, the time was not given weeks in advance this time around. Was that for security reasons?
Mr. Takashima: This satellite system actually involves some classified information and also a very advanced technology. Therefore, we thought that it would be necessary to take a very cautious approach for security reasons. Indeed, the security has been tightened at and around the launch site but it has nothing to do with North Korea. It is rather to prevent any sort of incidents such as a terrorist attack.
Q: So the security status of the Self-Defense Forces throughout Japan will remain as is at the moment?
Mr. Takashima: It has been tightened because of the war in Iraq.
Q: That was done last week?
Mr. Takashima: It was tightened on March 20. There was an instruction from the Defense Agency to have tightened security in and around the Self-Defense Force bases and installations.
As to the enforcement of higher security measures at the launch site in Kagoshima Prefecture, it is actually being done by the police and not by Self-Defense Forces.
Q: Will the level of alert applied on March 20 remain the same tomorrow?
Mr. Takashima: That is my understanding.
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