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On September 21, 2017 (local time), Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press occasion in New York in the United States of America.

In regard to the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting and the Japan-U.S.-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting, the Prime Minister said,

“I just held summit talks with President Trump of the United States for about an hour and a half. We had an in-depth exchange of views regarding the North Korea threat.
The U.S. gave solid confirmation of its unshakeable commitment to the defense of Japan, and Japan and the U.S. also confirmed that we stand together 100 percent.

Moreover, President Trump mentioned Ms. Megumi Yokota in the address he delivered to the United Nations, sending out a message to the world about the importance of the abduction issue. We confirmed that Japan and the U.S. will work with each other in steady collaboration and cooperation for the release of Japanese abductees and of U.S. nationals incarcerated in North Korea.

We also must ensure that the strict sanctions resolution recently passed is fully implemented and must also apply the greatest possible pressure on North Korea to cause it to change its policies in order to bring a resolution to the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abduction issue.

On this occasion, we also held summit talks among Japan, the U.S., and the Republic of Korea. There can be no doubt that Japan-U.S.-ROK cooperation is becoming stronger as the North Korea threat intensifies. Our three countries were in complete agreement that we will act in unity to appeal vigorously to the international community regarding North Korea. From now, our three countries will cooperate reliably and also work in cooperation with the international community to impose upon North Korea pressure that is by far the most intense to date and cause North Korea to change its policies.

We also agreed to accelerate arrangements for President Trump’s expected visit to Japan within 2017. Although I have held telephone talks with President Trump at timely occasions any number of times until now, I look forward to Mr. Trump coming to Japan in order for us to make Japan-U.S. relations even more robust while deepening our countries’ bonds of friendship.”