[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press occasion at the Prime Minister's Office on September 3, 2017.

In regard to the nuclear test by North Korea, the Prime Minister said,

“A short while ago, the Japan Meteorological Agency detected seismic waves with an epicenter located in the vicinity of North Korea. These waves may differ from a natural earthquake. North Korea may have conducted a nuclear test. I have already issued orders to the ministries and agencies concerned to conduct information gathering and analysis, provide the public with accurate information, and coordinate with the countries concerned including the United States, the Republic of Korea, China and Russia. If North Korea has indeed conducted a nuclear test, it would be completely unacceptable, and Japan must lodge its serious protest.  I will convey a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) after this so as to conduct information aggregation, analysis and other efforts.”