Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• The inauguration of an Advisory Council on the Establishment of a National Security Council

The Government has established an Advisory Council on the Establishment of a National Security Council and the first meeting of the council is scheduled to take place tomorrow from 6:00 pm. Given the situation in which the security environment surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly severe, it is necessary for the Cabinet to engage in efforts to strengthen diplomatic and security structures. A decision has therefore been made to establish this Advisory Council, comprised of experts, and consider the possible formats for a "National Security Council" that would take a commanding role in diplomatic and security matters. The members of the Advisory Council are as detailed in the handout that has been distributed. The members have been selected for their depth of knowledge in diplomatic and security-related fields and their wealth of administrative experience.

Q&As

• The Advisory Council on the Establishment of a National Security Council
• The nuclear test by North Korea

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the National Security Council (NSC), at what pace and in what manner will considerations be advanced, and when will a final decision be compiled? What are the specific anticipated points for discussion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Advisory Council will hold its first meeting tomorrow and the first priority will be to consider the format for the proposed NSC and how it should take a commanding role in diplomatic and security policies. As discussions will need to take into account various perspectives, in terms of a roadmap and timing, this is something that the expert members of the Advisory Council will determine on the basis of their discussions that will start from tomorrow. However, from the Government's viewpoint, given the recent incident in Algeria, I do not believe that discussions will be too prolonged. However, ultimately the timetable and roadmap for discussions is something that will be left for the expert members to decide in their meeting tomorrow.

REPORTER: How frequently is it expected that the Advisory Council will meet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There is the matter of the expert members' schedules to consider and therefore the frequency of meetings is also something that will be decided tomorrow.

REPORTER: Today the Republic of Korea announced that no xenon has yet been detected following the nuclear test by North Korea. Following the nuclear test have any radioactive materials or xenon, etc., that can be objectively verified been detected in Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have not heard that any such materials have been detected. However, I am aware that following previous underground nuclear tests it has been the case that no such materials have been detected.

REPORTER: On a related note, what is the Government's current evaluation of the nuclear test? Is it considered to have been a success or a failure?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Given the nature of this matter I will refrain from making any comment.