Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the first meeting of the Cyber Security Strategy Headquarters at the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the meeting, “The Management of the Headquarters and Other Matters,” “Responses to Serious Incidents and Other Matters,” and “Evaluation of Cyber Security Policies and Other Matters” were decided. Following that, after a discussion on the “New Cyber Security Strategy” and the “Policy for Evaluation (Inspection) of Policies to Strengthen Cyber Security Measures,” there were reports on “Cooperation with NISC and Related Organizations,” the “Budget for the Government’s Cyber Security,” and “Cyber Security Month.”

The Prime Minister stated the following in his opening remarks,
“I would like to offer some remarks upon the opening of this meeting of the Cyber Security Strategy Headquarters.
For the advancement of economic growth and innovation, cyberspace is a necessary venue, and the securing of safety in cyberspace, in other words, cyber security, is absolutely essential for the realization of the growth strategy.
 Meanwhile, as seen in the cyber attacks on an American film distributor and on important infrastructure in South Korea, threats to cyberspace are becoming increasingly serious. Measures to respond to cyber attacks are a truly critical issue in the national security and crisis management of Japan.
Taking into account this state of affairs, the “Cyber Security Basic Law” to fundamentally strengthen Japan’s cyber security was passed in the previous Diet session.
The Basic Law has given the Cyber Security Strategy Headquarters, which is having its first meeting today, the authority to evaluate the policies of related administrative organizations, request the submission of materials, and so on, and the Headquarters must indeed be a control tower for Japan in the cyber security field, in both name and reality.
Firstly, in regard to the basic policy of cyber security measures, we will formulate a new “Cyber Security Strategy,” and I would like all of you distinguished experts to make extensive use of your outstanding knowledge in this regard.
In 2020, the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place. Based on the experience of London, one essential element in achieving the success of the events will be ensuring cyber security. Keeping these points in mind, we intend to take all possible measures in regard to Japan’s cyber security.
I would like to close my remarks by expressing my hope that this Headquarters will fully carry out its role as a control tower.”