    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [May 23, 2003]
    [Pages 531-535]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Junichiro
    Koizumi of Japan in Crawford, Texas
    May 23, 2003

        President Bush. Welcome. I'm honored to welcome my very good friend
    the Prime Minister of Japan to Crawford. He was a gracious host when I
    visited Japan, and Laura and I are pleased to
    return the hospitality.
        We have met nine times during my Presidency. I know the Prime
    Minister well. I trust his judgment. I deeply respect his leadership.
    Our meeting today affirms the close and unique relationship between our
    two nations.
        For the past half-century, America has been committed to the
    security of Japan and to the stability and prosperity of the entire Asia
    Pacific region. Japan and the United States have a global alliance, a
    partnership based on shared interests and a shared belief in the cause
    of freedom.
        The Japanese Government demonstrated its commitment to peace and
    freedom, along with America, that Saddam Hussein's regime live up to its international obligations. I
    appreciate the Prime Minister's strong leadership on Iraq as well as
    Japan's diplomatic and financial support for key regional states
    affected by the conflict.
        Today Japan is committed to playing a leading role in Iraq's long-
    term reconstruction, will also provide immediate assistance for schools,
    medical supplies, and sanitation. Japanese forces will provide
    logistical support for humanitarian and reconstruction activities. I
    thank the Prime Minister for his leadership.
        Around the globe, Japan and America are addressing threats to our
    common security and meeting our common responsibilities. We are partners
    in the war on terror. In

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    Afghanistan, Japanese naval ships helped refuel coalition vessels in the
    fight against the Taliban. Today we're working together to complete a
    major highway that will help unify Afghanistan, strengthen that
    country's economy, and weaken the grip of the warlords.
        Our two nations are committed to the fight against global poverty,
    hunger, and disease. We are committed to completing the WTO global trade
    negotiations, so we can advance prosperity around the world.
        The Prime Minister and I also discussed his policies for
    reinvigorating the Japanese economy, including his plans for encouraging
    investment, corporate restructuring, and banking reform. I support the
    Prime Minister's efforts, and I support the Prime Minister's reforms. A
    vibrant, dynamic Japanese economy is in America's interest, and it is in
    the world's interest.
        Our two countries are also determined to confront the threat from
    weapons of mass destruction and the missiles used to deliver them. The
    Prime Minister and I agree that we will deepen and accelerate our
    cooperation on missile defenses.
        On the threat from North Korea's nuclear program, the Prime Minister
    and I see the problem exactly the same way. We will not tolerate nuclear
    weapons in North Korea. We will not give into blackmail. We will not
    settle for anything less than the complete, verifiable, and irreversible
    elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
        We discussed the fact that China has started to play an important
    role in our efforts to address this challenge. At talks held in Beijing
    last month, China called on North Korea to renounce nuclear weapons and
    live up to its agreements. The Prime Minister and I agreed that we must
    broaden these talks to include Japan and South Korea and, at sometime
    later, perhaps others. We are confident that our diplomatic approach
    will bring a peaceful solution. Yet we agreed that further escalation of
    the situation by North Korea will require tougher measures from the
    intelligence community.
        Finally, I assured the Prime Minister that the United States will
    stand squarely with Japan until all Japanese citizens kidnaped by North
    Korea are fully accounted for. I strongly condemn the kidnaping of
    Japanese citizens by the North Koreans.
        Nearly 150 years have passed since the United States and Japan
    opened up diplomatic relations. Since then, we have gone from strangers
    to adversaries to the very best of friends. I look forward to building
    on our strong relationship to meet the challenge of our times.
        Mr. Prime Minister.
        Prime Minister Koizumi. I'd like to express my heartfelt
    appreciation to the President and the First Lady for their heartwarming
    welcome and hospitality. We were able to have in-depth and very candid
    discussions in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
        In the 150 years since the arrival of Commodore Perry to the shores
    of Japan, we have developed into strong allies, and we've been able to
    confirm those strong relations between our two countries, not just in
    the context of a bilateral relationship but also in the global context.
    The Japan-U.S. security arrangements are a pillar that supports our
    alliance. We decided to further promote consultations between our
    Governments and to make our cooperation in the security area even
    stronger.
        Ballistic missile defense is an important agenda in Japan's defense
    policy, and Japan will further accelerate its consideration. In
    addition, we concurred on the importance of reducing the burden on the
    people of Okinawa.
        Now, the other pillar is the economy. The Japanese and U.S. gross
    domestic products together would account for 40 percent of global GDP.
    So it is vital for the world economy, not just the Japanese and U.S.
    economies but for the world economy, that the Japanese and--or rather,
    it is vital for our two countries as well as

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    for the entire world economy that the Japanese and U.S. economies are
    healthy.
        And the most important mission of my Cabinet is to revitalize the
    Japanese economy. And I have the support of President Bush in my efforts
    to further accelerate structural reforms. And to achieve that goal, I'll
    tackle deflation. I shall never allow a financial crisis to occur. So,
    not just in the security area but also in the economic area, and others
    as well, I would like to promote further cooperation between our two
    countries on various issues, from the perspective of Japan-U.S. alliance
    in a global context.
        We are determined in the pursuit of our fight against terrorism and
    proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Now, of course, we have
    different roles and different means to play out those roles. But to root
    out terrorism, Japan and the United States should continue with firm
    determination to join their forces.
        Now, on Iraq, the President made a difficult and brave decision for
    a just cause, and I supported this, and our decision was right. With
    Memorial Day coming up, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences
    to the brave U.S. men and women in uniform who sacrificed their lives
    for the cause as well as to their families.
        I welcome the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1483. And I
    saw eye-to-eye with President Bush that we shall continue to cooperate
    with each other in order to build up international cooperation. Japan
    will actively support Iraq's nation-building.
        And I believe that taking advantage of this cessation of combat in
    Iraq, and through the reconstruction of Iraq, we should--the world, as a
    whole, should cooperate together in order to bring about peace and
    stability in the Middle East. And I would like to express my respect for
    the active efforts the President has been making in the Middle East. I
    shall be visiting Egypt and Saudi Arabia on this trip, and together with
    the Arab countries, I would like to engage in efforts to reconstruct
    Iraq.
        The issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons is a grave challenge to
    the entire world. We will not at all tolerate the possession, the
    development, or the transfer of nuclear weapons by North Korea. North
    Korea must promptly and completely dismantle all nuclear weapons
    development programs in a verifiable manner, and we agreed that we would
    resolve this issue peacefully.
        Coordination among Japan, the United States, and the Republic of
    Korea is crucial to that end. Continuation of the multilateral talks is
    important, and participation by Japan and the Republic of Korea is
    essential. Further escalation of the situation by North Korea would
    require tougher measures.
        In any event, Japan will crack down more rigorously on illegal
    activities, and the North Koreans will have to understand that threats
    and intimations will have no meaning whatsoever. It is extremely
    important for Japan to comprehensively resolve the various issues,
    including nuclear weapons, missiles, and abduction, based on the
    Pyongyang Declaration. And without the resolution of these issues,
    normalization of relations will not occur.
        And I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the President for
    his strong support on the abduction issue.
        In any case, I would like to take this occasion to express my
    heartfelt respect to the President for the strong leadership he has
    exerted since the 9/11 terror attacks the year before last as well as
    the strong determination he showed in addressing--as a wartime
    President. And I would like to say that Japan will, as much as possible,
    strive with the United States for world peace and stability.
        Yesterday and today I spent many hours--and I've never spent so many
    hours discussing various issues with a head of state or head of
    government. And we discussed all sorts of issues very candidly and in-
    depth. I learned from the President that the word ``Texas'' also means
    ``friend.'' So, my appreciation, my heartfelt appreciation

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    goes to the President and Mrs. Bush for their very warm hospitality and
    to the personal friendship that the President has shown.
        President Bush. Absolutely.
        Listen, we'll answer two questions a side, alternating. Please
    address--so don't--one of these things where you ask me and ask the
    Prime Minister or vice versa. Let's just ask one question to one of us
    as we rotate back and forth, if you don't mind.
        Scott [Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press], will you please set the
    example.

    Middle East Peace Process

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. I just have one question, and that's
    that Sharon embraced the roadmap today. How significant is that? Where
    do we go from here? And will you meet with him and Abbas in Egypt or
    Europe?
        President Bush. Prime Minister Sharon
    accepted the roadmap, and that's progress. He accepted it because I
    assured him that the United States is committed to Israel's security and
    that, since we're committed to Israel's security, as we move forward we
    will address any concerns that might arise regarding Israel's security.
        I'm exploring the opportunities as to whether or not I should meet
    with Prime Minister Abu Mazen, ``Abu Mazen''
    as well as Prime Minister Sharon. If a meeting
    advances progress toward two states living side-by-side in peace, I will
    strongly consider such a meeting.
        I'm committed to working toward peace in the Middle East. Last week
    I talked to the Prime Minister of Israel as
    well as to the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, ``Abu Mazen'' and I met with the Finance Minister of
    the Palestinian Authority. I understand it's
    going to be difficult to achieve peace, but I believe it can happen.
        Do you want to call on a member of the Japanese press?

    Japan's Role in Iraqi Reconstruction

        Q. I'd like to ask questions relating to the Japanese self-defense
    forces in connection with the assistance for Iraq's reconstruction.
    First question for President Bush. Would you expect Japanese
    contributions to the extent that the Japanese self-defense forces would
    go into Iraq on the ground for supporting Iraq's reconstruction?
        And a question for Prime Minister. Would you consider legislating
    new law to enable that?
        President Bush. Let me answer first. I expect Japan to participate
    to the extent that the Prime Minister deems is necessary to fulfill the
    commitment. He tells me he's going to help in the reconstruction of
    Iraq. I believe him.
        Prime Minister Koizumi. Well, this question related to the dispatch
    of Japanese self-defense forces. We are already considering the dispatch
    of self-defense force airlift capabilities in the countries neighboring
    Iraq for humanitarian purposes.
        More specifically, with regard to the question of sending self-
    defense forces into Iraq for aiding Iraq's reconstruction, now that the
    U.N. resolution has passed, upon return to Japan we shall study in
    detail what Japan can do for the reconstruction of Iraq. At any rate,
    the question of what Japan can do for helping Iraq reconstruction is a
    matter for Japan to decide.
        I also believe it is important that Japan make contributions for
    Iraq's reconstruction in a prudent manner, in view of Japan's own
    strength. And we shall cooperate with the United States; we shall
    cooperate with the United Nations for the reconstruction of Iraq. So we
    shall consider what Japan can do as an initiative-taking country for the
    reconstruction of Iraq.
        President Bush. Randy [Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters].

    North Korea

        Q. Mr. President, you said today that an escalation by North Korea
    of its nuclear activities will require tougher measures. But

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    right now they possess nuclear weapons you say you won't tolerate. So at
    what point would you need to increase pressure if they simply do
    nothing?
        President Bush. Well, the first step was to convince China to
    participate in the process of saying to North Korea that acceptance by
    the international community and potential help will come when they
    change their behavior and their attitude toward nuclear weapons. This
    message has been delivered, and the North Koreans are thinking about it.
    Should they choose to move forward, which we hope they do, then we will
    have the Japanese and South Koreans join the dialog so that there's now
    five of us sitting around the table, all discussing how to see that the
    Korean Peninsula is nuclear-weapons-free.
        And the importance of this meeting today should say to the world
    that Japan and the United States stand shoulder-to-shoulder on the issue
    of North Korea's nuclear weaponry. I believe that we can solve this
    peacefully. I believe that diplomacy can work. And as importantly, Japan
    and the United States will not be blackmailed by North Korean threats,
    and that's important for the North Korean leadership to know.
        Q. I'd like to ask this question of--to both leaders. On this--I
    understand that in your meeting today you reconfirmed that you'll seek
    peaceful resolution of this North Korean nuclear issue. The question is,
    do you think that North Korea, that regime under the leadership of Kim
    Chong-il can really be a counterpart in negotiations for a peaceful
    resolution of the problem?
        Prime Minister Koizumi. On this point let me first say that
    President Bush was stating very clearly that our response to North Korea
    would be different from that to Iraq. Now, the U.S. position, I
    understand, is that all options will remain available, but the United
    States, or President Bush was saying that he was confident that a
    peaceful resolution can be achieved.
        Japan certainly will also seek a peaceful resolution. And I would
    like to engage in various ways to appeal to the North Koreans and make
    them understand that instead of becoming isolated from the international
    community, it is most important for them to become a responsible member
    of the community of nations, and that is most important not just for
    North Korea itself but for the peace and stability of the Korean
    Peninsula and for the entire world.
        President Bush. Thank you very much.

    Annika Sorenstam

        Q. A golf question, sir?
        President Bush. Golf?
        Q. What do you think about Annika Sorenstam?
        President Bush. I'm impressed by Annika Sorenstam. I hope she makes
    the cut. I'm pulling for her, and I hope I'll be watching her on
    Saturday and Sunday.
        Thank you all.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 11:30 a.m. at the Bush
    Ranch. In his remarks, he referred to former President Saddam Hussein of
    Iraq; Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel; Prime Minister Mahmoud
    Abbas (Abu Mazen) and Finance Minister Salam Fayyad of the Palestinian
    Authority; and Annika Sorenstam, a leading golfer in the Ladies
    Professional Golf Association, who played in the Professional Golf
    Association's Bank of America Colonial tournament. A reporter referred
    to Chairman Kim Chong-il of North Korea. Prime Minister Koizumi spoke in
    Japanese, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter.