International tension has intensified mainly around the so-called "unstable arc-shaped region" which covers the area from the Korean Peninsula to the Middle East via South East Asia. The Public Security Intelligence Agency has made Agency-wide efforts to collect and analyze information on these regions and provide it to related organizations to ensure security and peace in Japan.
Concerning intelligence activities relating to international terrorism, the Agency examined and implemented an "Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism" formulated in December 2004 by the Headquarters for Promotion of Measures against Transnational Organized Crime and Other Related Issues and International Terrorism. In addition, the Agency newly established a position for and appointed in April an International Intelligence Senior Planning Officer in the Second Intelligence Department of the Headquarters, concentrated on collecting information on the movement of international terrorist organizations and investigating any movements in Japan that could possibly lead to illegal activities by drastically increasing investigators on location, and attempted to strengthen cooperation with related foreign organizations.
For matters related to North Korea and Chongryon, the Agency enhanced its system to collect information on site and conducted its activities by putting priorities on North Korea's domestic situation, foreign policy and policies towards Japan, issues of the abduction of Japanese nationals and other illegal activities, the nuclear development, and Chongryon's activities related to these matters and the activities aimed at strengthening the organization.
Regarding China, the Agency made efforts to collect information mainly on, in addition to China's domestic situation, its foreign policy including that for North Korea and the United States and its policies toward Japan such as those related to the issue of historical perceptions.
For Russia, the Agency conducted its investigation by putting priority on Russian policies towards Japan including its stance on the Northern Territories.
The Agency continued to prioritize Aum Shinrikyo-related intelligence activities and enhanced its intelligence system. The Agency conducted investigations centering on the cult's organizational recruiting activities and indoctrination in members of absolute faith in Asahara whose teachings even justify acts of murder. As a result, the Agency found that Aum Shinrikyo is a dangerous organization capable of committing indiscriminate mass murder and requested the Public Security Examination Commission in November to extend the surveillance period (for the second time).
The Agency conducted on-site inspections based on surveillance of 29 facilities in 14 prefectures from January to the end of November and investigated the actual situation and activities of the cult and its level of dangerousness. The enforcement regulations of the organization control law were amended in December 2004 so that the scope of investigation results able to be provided to the related municipalities was expanded and the Agency could better attempt to resolve the unease among the public.
The Agency developed its intelligence activities regarding the Japanese Communist Party and radical leftist groups in relation to the issues of dispatching Self-Defense Forces to Iraq and restructuring of U.S. military bases as well as regarding the activities of right-wing groups concerning issues related to the abduction of Japanese nationals, territories, maritime interest, and anti-Japanese activities.
Various situations including those related to international terrorism, North Korea, and China have been rapidly changing and the needs for information on these matters have become greater.
For the Agency to contribute to "ensuring public safety" of Japan and to obtain and promptly and appropriately analyze the information required for Japan to fulfill its duty in the international community and provide this to the government and related organizations at an appropriate time and manner, it is necessary not only to enhance its cooperation with related domestic and foreign organizations but also to use its information collection function built up over the past 50 years in the process of investigating destructive groups to the maximum extent possible in addition to further enhancing its system and capabilities to collect extensive security-related information.
Prevention is most important in the fight against terrorism. The Agency therefore intends to make prevention efforts by strengthening cooperation with intelligence agencies of other countries in order to collect information on the movement of international terrorist organizations and terrorists and by enhancing information networks in Japan so as to be able to thoroughly investigate activities that may lead to terrorist acts, as well as to identify suspicious persons, specify the persons related to terrorist organizations, and know their activities.
Regarding North Korea and Chongryon, the Agency plans to collect information on nuclear capabilities in North Korea and on the issue of abduction and to further strengthen the investigation of Chongryon that is closely related to North Korea and is developing various activities in Japan.
For China, it is necessary for the Agency to continue to pay attention to the country' s domestic situation and collect information on its policies towards Japan and other countries, because China aims to establish leadership in Asia based on its growing economic and military powers and, at the same time, faces problems that are a threat to social stability such as expanding disparity in wealth and environmental problems.
Aum Shinrikyo remains a dangerous organization with its conventional training system and hierarchy where orders come from the upper ranks, and are blindly obeyed by the lower ranks. It is also a closed society that makes justifications for the two sarin nerve gas attacks as acts preached by its dogma. The Agency has heard many calls from the general public demanding enhanced legal restrictions on the group's activities, especially from those living in the communities where the group's facilities are located. The Agency is taking these requests seriously and intends to conduct extensive investigations and inspections, to take any necessary measures to prevent their subversive activities, to reveal the real situation of the organization and activities, and to promptly provide those regional residents with sufficient information in order to counter their fear and anxiety.
Regarding radical leftist groups and right-wing groups, it is expected that they will develop their activities of protest or criticism in response to various focal issues inside and outside Japan, so the Agency will continue to pay close attention to these groups.
In order to protect the free and democratic society of Japan and secure the peace and security of the country and its people, each and every one of the investigators at the Public Security Intelligence Agency wishes to push forward every day with his/her duties and a clear sense of purpose, promoting the "intelligence battle" by the entire organization by working as the efficient eyes and ears of the country and its people.
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