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Last Update : Friday, Feb 12, 2016

JapanGov Weekly

[Cabinet Secretariat] [Wednesday, Feb 10, 2016]

Measures taken by the Government of Japan against North Korea

Japan has repeatedly and strongly urged North Korea to fully comply with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) and refrain from any provocations including nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches. The abductions issue, the most important issue for the Abe Administration, still remains unresolved despite calls for the return of all abductees at the earliest possible date.

It was against this backdrop that North Korea went ahead with its fourth nuclear test and the ballistic missile launch. These acts constitute direct and grave threats to Japan’s security and are totally unacceptable as they seriously undermine the peace and security of Northeast Asia as well as the international community.

Following these developments, the Government of Japan has seriously looked into what concrete measures should be taken from the viewpoint of taking the most effective approach toward the comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues of concern, such as the abductions, nuclear, and missile issues.

The Government of Japan has now decided to take the following measures of its own against North Korea.

First, the Government of Japan implements restrictions on movement of persons. The details are as follows:

Ban on the entry of North Korean citizens
Ban on the re-entry of North Korean authority officials residing in Japan with an aim to go to North Korea; ban on the re-entry of those who are in the position to assist the above-mentioned North Korean authority officials residing in Japan with an aim to go to North Korea (expand the targets than before)
Request to all residents not to visit North Korea
Suspension of Japanese government officials’ visit to North Korea
Ban on the landing of North Korean flag vessels’ crew members
Ban on the landing of foreign crew members, sentenced for the violation of the trade and financial measures against North Korea; ban on the re-entry of those foreign citizens residing in Japan, sentenced for the violation of the above-mentioned measures, with an aim to go to North Korea
Ban on the re-entry of foreign experts on nuclear and missile technology residing in Japan with an aim to go to North Korea
Second, the Government of Japan reduces the lowest amount that requires notification from equivalent to 1 million yen to 100,000 yen concerning the carrying of currency etc. to North Korea and bans the payment to North Korea except for the case in which the amount is less than 100,000 yen with humanitarian purposes.

Third, the Government of Japan bans the entry of all North Korean flag vessels including those for humanitarian purposes and bans the entry of third-country flag vessels which have previously called at ports in North Korea.

Fourth, the Government of Japan adds to entities and individuals designated for asset-freezing measures.

In sum, under the consistent policy of “dialogue and pressure” and “action for action,” Japan strongly urges North Korea to take positive responses toward the comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues of concern, such as the abductions, nuclear, and missile issues. Japan intends to maintain dialogue for resolving the abductions issue, its most important issue, and to make its utmost efforts to realize the return of all abductees at the earliest possible date based on the agreement between Japan and North Korea reached at Stockholm in May, 2014.

[Japan International Cooperation Agency] [Friday, Feb 12, 2016]

Signing of Grant Agreement with Nigeria: Substation improvements to stabilize the supply of power to the capital region

On February 11, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement (G/A) with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide grant aid of up to 1.317 billion yen for the Project for Emergency Improvement of Electricity Supply Facilities in Abuja

This project will install power capacitor banks at two substations in Abuja—the capital city in the Federal Capital Territory—and neighboring Nasarawa State to reduce the voltage drop in the power transmission system, decrease the transmission power loss in the region and improve the quality of the power supply.

Although Nigeria has an estimated maximum power demand of 12,800 megawatts, the installed generation capacity in the country is only 6,579 megawatts (2013), and due to inadequate expansion of the power transmission network, power outages occur frequently. Given that there is a large power transmission loss, power is available in Abuja and neighboring regions an average of only about eight hours a day from the distant power-generation facilities.

This project will improve these circumstances, upgrading two substations in Abuja and neighboring Nasarawa State, which will stabilize the power supply in the regions served by those substations. This project is expected to provide a stable power supply to approximately 7,000 households. By improving the power supply capacity and reliability, this project is expected to stimulate economic activities and improve the lives of residents. In conjunction with this project, JICA is providing assistance for hydroelectric power plant rehabilitation, solar power generation system development and master plan formulation in the power sector, and continues comprehensive support for further development of power sector in Nigeria.

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan] [Tuesday, Feb 9, 2016]

Extension of the Dispatch Term of the International Peace Cooperation Corps in South Sudan

1. Japan has dispatched Headquarters staff personnel and Ground Self Defense Force engineering unit to UNMISS (United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan) since November 2011 and January 2012 respectively.

South Sudan gained independence in July 2011 after the long civil war between the north and the south Sudan and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Four and a half years have passed since its independence, and currently domestic political disorder is a great challenge to the nation-building of South Sudan. The Government of Japan recognizes that the peace and stability of South Sudan is important for the peace and stability of Africa, and that the international community needs to work cooperatively on this issue.

On 15 December 2015, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2252, which extended the mandate of UNMISS until 31 July 2016.

In relation to this, the Government of Japan decided to revise the Implementation Plans for International Peace Cooperation Assignments and extend its period.

According to the International Peace Corporation Law Article 7 (i) and (ⅲ), the Prime Minister will report the contents pertaining to the revision and the status of implementation to the Diet.

2. Major Points of Revision are following.

Extension of the Period

Current : 29 Feb 2016
After Revision : 31 Oct 2016(8 months extension)

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan] [Tuesday, Feb 9, 2016]

Japan’s Response to the Earthquake in Southern Taiwan

1. On February 9, Japan has decided to provide emergency relief goods (3,600 plastic containers and 200 rolls of plastic sheets) stockpiled by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to affected Tainan City, to respond to the earthquake that occurred in Southern Taiwan on February 6.

2. The assistance amounting to USD 1 million announced on February 8 (http://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press4e_001022.html) will be provided to The Red Cross Society of Taiwan and other organizations once the necessary procedures have been completed. The emergency relief goods mentioned above will be provided based on information gathered on the ground and other factors as part of the assistance.