[Provisional translation]
(Reporter)
I am Yoshino, with TV Asahi. Madame Prime Minister, you are about to depart for the Republic of Korea. Could you tell us about the significance of this visit and what outcomes you hope to achieve? Also, do you plan to discuss last week’s U.S.-China summit meeting, the situation surrounding Iran, and related energy issues?
I am Yoshino, with TV Asahi. Madame Prime Minister, you are about to depart for the Republic of Korea. Could you tell us about the significance of this visit and what outcomes you hope to achieve? Also, do you plan to discuss last week’s U.S.-China summit meeting, the situation surrounding Iran, and related energy issues?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
Today, I will be visiting the Republic of Korea and holding a summit meeting with President Lee Jae Myung. In January this year, President Lee kindly visited Japan after expressing his wish to visit Nara, my hometown. On this occasion, I have been invited to Andong, President Lee’s hometown.
Today, I will be visiting the Republic of Korea and holding a summit meeting with President Lee Jae Myung. In January this year, President Lee kindly visited Japan after expressing his wish to visit Nara, my hometown. On this occasion, I have been invited to Andong, President Lee’s hometown.
Under the current strategic environment, I believe that the importance of Japan-ROK relations, as well as Japan-ROK-U.S. cooperation, is increasing further. Against this backdrop, the two governments have agreed to maintain close communication in order to develop Japan-ROK relations in a future-oriented and stable manner, and this visit to the Republic of Korea will also serve as an important opportunity.
I look forward to having in-depth discussions and produce outcomes with President Lee Jae Myung on the current severe international situation, including the situation in the Middle East and regional developments in the Indo-Pacific, as well as cooperation between our two governments under the current strategic environment and the direction for further developing Japan-ROK relations.
With regard to the energy issues you mentioned as well, I would like to hold thorough discussions on specific forms of cooperation. That is all.
(Reporter)
I am Sugiyama, with The Asahi Shimbun. I have a question regarding a weekly magazine report. The report alleges that, during the LDP presidential election and the House of Representatives election, your camp posted videos on social media criticizing other candidates. In the Diet, Madame Prime Minister, you stated that neither you nor your secretaries were acquainted with the man said to have been involved in producing the videos. However, yesterday, the man said in a YouTube video that he had been communicating with one of your secretaries and had engaged in those activities. How do you view the consistency between your remarks and his statements?
I am Sugiyama, with The Asahi Shimbun. I have a question regarding a weekly magazine report. The report alleges that, during the LDP presidential election and the House of Representatives election, your camp posted videos on social media criticizing other candidates. In the Diet, Madame Prime Minister, you stated that neither you nor your secretaries were acquainted with the man said to have been involved in producing the videos. However, yesterday, the man said in a YouTube video that he had been communicating with one of your secretaries and had engaged in those activities. How do you view the consistency between your remarks and his statements?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
I have never met the individual in question, nor have any of my secretaries. I also checked the person’s name. I believe there is full consistency in my remarks.
I have never met the individual in question, nor have any of my secretaries. I also checked the person’s name. I believe there is full consistency in my remarks.
(Reporter)
(Sugiyama, The Asahi Shimbun) By saying that you have never met him, do you mean there was online communication?
(Sugiyama, The Asahi Shimbun) By saying that you have never met him, do you mean there was online communication?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
Well, even if you ask me that, I do not know myself. However, neither my office nor I have ever disseminated information or produced videos containing slanderous or defamatory remarks about other candidates.
Well, even if you ask me that, I do not know myself. However, neither my office nor I have ever disseminated information or produced videos containing slanderous or defamatory remarks about other candidates.