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On April 21, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press occasion in Tokyo.
 
In regard to North Korea’s announcement that it will cease conducting nuclear and ballistic missile tests, the Prime Minister said,
 
“I welcome the statement by North Korea as a positive step. But the important point is whether or not it will lead to the complete, verifiable and irreversible abandonment of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs as well as other weapons of mass destruction. We will monitor the situation closely.”
 
In addition, regarding the Government’s response, the Prime Minister said,
 
“There is no change to our basic policy. At the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting, we have already concluded our thorough coordination over how we will respond to various changes and responses made by North Korea. Japan and the U.S. as well as Japan, the U.S. and the Republic of Korea will deal with the situation based on our basic policy.”