[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press occasion at the Prime Minister's Office on September 6, 2017.

In regard to attending the Eastern Economic Forum and other matters, the Prime Minister said,

“My upcoming meeting with President Putin in Vladivostok will be my 19th meeting with the President. I hope to have an in-depth discussion with him in order to resolve the issue of the peace treaty, building upon our series of meetings up until now. I want to further materialize the joint economic activities that were given momentum by the agreement reached during our meeting in Nagato City last year, as well as the arrangements to enable former residents of the Northern Territories to go back and forth freely to the islands, and make progress on the issue of the peace treaty.

We need to make North Korea understand that there will be no bright future for the country if it maintains its current policy and continues down its current path, and make North Korea change its present policy. For this reason, coordinated efforts needs to be made between Japan and Russia, as well as among the international community. To that end I will be holding talks with President Putin and President Moon Jae-in.”