[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 43 (Monday, October 27, 2003)]
[Pages 1413-1415]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Interview With Taro Kimura of Japan's FUJI TV

October 14, 2003

    The President. Glad you're here. Ready to go.

Japan's Reconstruction Aid for Iraq

    Mr. Kimura. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for this interview. 
I'm sure Prime Minister Koizumi is looking forward to have you over 
there. Actually, he is preparing a package for Iraqi reconstruction 
which includes $5 billion aid for the next 4 years and sending a couple 
of hundred Japanese self-defense forces over there for the humanitarian 
operation. Do you think Japan fulfilled her responsibility with this 
package?
    The President. Yes. I'm very pleased. Prime Minister Koizumi and I 
are good friends. I admire him a lot, and I spoke to him about Japan 
helping in Iraq, just like Japan helped in Afghanistan. And he assured 
me he would work hard to develop a good package. It sounds like he has 
done so, and I'm grateful and thankful.
    We've got great relations between America and Japan. We will keep 
them that way. And part of good relations is we see problems, and we 
work together, and see opportunities. And a free Iraq is a--a peaceful 
Iraq is a wonderful opportunity for Japan and the United States to work 
together to achieve because a free and peaceful Iraq will change the 
world in a positive way.

North Korea/Japanese Abductees

    Mr. Kimura. Another subject, Mr. President, that the Prime Minister 
will bring up is the North Korean problem.
    The President. Yes, yes.
    Mr. Kimura. And he is working very hard to resolve the issue of 
abductees, Japanese.
    The President. Yes.
    Mr. Kimura. What could your administration do to help him realizing 
the reunification of the abductees' status?
    The President. Well, that's a very interesting question. The primary 
objective of the five countries who are now engaged with North Korea is 
to get rid of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. That's our 
primary objective, and that ought to be our focus.
    A major issue with the Prime Minister, of course, is the abductees. 
I've always said that

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the fact that North Korea kidnaped or abducted these people talks to the 
nature of the administration in North Korea. And of course, we will send 
strong signals that we object to that kind of behavior, that that is not 
a civil behavior.
    But the first objective is for all of us to work together for the 
sake of peace and security, particularly in your part of the world, to 
get rid of any nuclear weapons and/or ambitions for nuclear weapons.
    Mr. Kimura. For example, do you think it's possible that your 
administration demand North Korea to include this abduction program in 
whatever the comprehensive package----
    The President. Well, I think it's very important. I'll talk to the 
Prime Minister about this, of course. I know this is a very sensitive 
subject, and I've spoken out about this terrible practice, a terrible 
part of history, that the North Koreans abducted. But the first thing we 
got to do is focus on our overall objective, and that is to make sure 
that the peninsula is nuclear weapons-free. And that's in Japan's 
interest, of course. And right now that's where our focus is.
    Mr. Kimura. I understand--or I read Bob Woodward's book. And you've 
said you loathe Kim Chong-il. Do you still feel that same way?
    The President. When I know a leader starves his people, allows his 
people to starve, and know there's detention camps and it's not a free 
society--it's a very, closed totalitarian society--he and I don't agree, 
obviously, on freedom and peace. And I hope that Kim Chong-il realizes 
that when five nations speak, we're very serious, and that it's in his 
country's interest to get rid of nuclear weapons and/or programs to 
develop nuclear weapons. Because the five countries that are now 
speaking in one voice are saying as clearly as possible to Mr. Kim 
Chong-il, ``You need to change for your good and for the good of the 
country.''

Monetary Policy

    Mr. Kimura. There is speculation in Tokyo that you will speak to Mr. 
Koizumi to let dollar-yen rate float and not let the Japanese financial 
institute to intervene in the market. Is this the case?
    The President. Well, I will talk to him about, one, our Government's 
strong dollar policy. And I will remind him that our position when it 
comes to currency exchanges is that the market ought to decide the 
relative values of currencies based upon the fiscal policy of each 
government, the monetary policy of each government, the future economic 
picture of each country. And that's what I will remind him. This will 
not be the first time that we have discussed dollar policy and/or trade 
matters.
    Mr. Kimura. Lastly, I remember you've enjoyed yakitori when you were 
in Tokyo, the barbecued chicken.
    The President. Yes, I did. [Laughter]
    Mr. Kimura. And I wonder whether you will bear tasting sushi this 
time. I know you're not really particularly in favor of the raw fish.
    The President. Well, I'm a beef man. You know I like good beef. 
Japan's got some of the greatest beef in the world. And--but I'm also, 
hopefully, a good enough guest not to demand a particular menu from my 
host. The Prime Minister and I have eaten a lot of meals together. And 
I'm confident that he will put together a good meal for both the First 
Lady, Laura, and me. And I really am looking forward to seeing him. He 
is--he is a great friend. He is an interesting man. I really enjoyed 
being around him. You know, one of the--he came to my ranch. And he and 
I sat down apart from the house in a beautiful part of the ranch and had 
a very long discussion just on a personal basis. And it meant a lot to 
me. He's a leader of a great country and a great friend of the United 
States. And I'm grateful for our relationship.
    Mr. Kimura. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
    The President. Yes, sir, you're welcome.

Note: The interview was taped at 3:10 p.m. in the Library at the White 
House, and the transcript was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on October 18. In his remarks, the President referred to Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan; and Chairman Kim Chong-il of North 
Korea. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this 
interview.

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