1. Announcements

A Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyer Kurama collided with a cargo vessel. It is extremely regrettable that we have caused anxiety and trouble to the people.

Here is an outline of the incident. The accident occurred around 7:56 P.M. today in the Kanmon Strait, almost right below the Kanmon Bridge. The vessels involved are a 5,200-ton MSDF destroyer “Kurama” and a South Korean cargo ship “CARINA STAR,” which is about 7,400 tons. The situation confirmed so far is that fire broke out in both ships, and that crewmembers of the Kurama are currently extinguishing the fire that broke out in the bow. We are still gathering information about the other ship, but the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) informed us that the fire on the ship has already been put out, and so far no injury has been confirmed [on their side]. Meanwhile, one crewmember of the Kurama is reported to be slightly injured. The Kurama was on its way back to Sasebo Base, after attending the fleet review.

I was informed of the accident at 8:10 P.M. The report was forwarded to the Cabinet Information Collection Center at 8:11 P.M. I entered the Ministry of Defense at 8:50 P.M., and immediately set up the headquarters with the senior officials who showed up promptly. I made a call to the Chief Cabinet Secretary at 9:30 P.M. The Prime Minister has given an instruction to “take every measure to ensure that fire will not spread to other parts of the ship.” Although I have not confirmed it yet, the instruction seems to have been mostly followed.

Both ships collided at the bow. The cargo ship is reported to have a hole in the area under the anchor. Further details will be reported later by our press secretary.

(For the remainder of the press conference(Q&A session), please refer to the Japanese version.)