Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issue related to the special intelligence protection bill.
• The issue related to North Korea

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the special intelligence protection bill. I asked the same question yesterday. Today the meeting of the House of Councillors' Special Committee on National Security is in session with the Prime Minister in attendance, where there is a backlash from opposition parties who assert that there have been insufficient deliberations and that the Government is forcing the bill through the Diet. What is your current view of this situation in the Diet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Discussions have taken place in the House of Representatives, and the issues raised in the Special Committee have been duly revised in the course of discussions. Following that process, discussions are currently taking place in the House of Councillors. Given this situation, I do not believe in any way that it was forceful.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Prime Minister Abe spoke about the concept for the establishment of a third-party monitoring organization, which is currently the most significant point of issue in deliberations, referring to this concept as the "Committee for Protection and Oversight" Could you provide us with some more details about this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In his responses in the Diet concerning the establishment of a third-party organization, the Prime Minister noted that a new organization would be established that would be able to engage in screening from a fair and independent stance, providing advice and other measures concerning the conservation and management of administrative documents that contain specified secrets. He also stated that the necessary structures to support this organization would be developed. It will refer to the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) of the United States, and the process of development will be completed prior to when the special intelligence protection legislation enters into effect. I am aware that in his response, the Prime Minister mentioned the Independent Public Records Management Secretary as a possible example of the name for the new organization, noting that the Government intends to continue considerations on the nature and scope of work of the proposed organization.

REPORTER: If that is the case, are we to assume that the third-party organization would be created within the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, I believe that is what will happen.

REPORTER: On a related note, for the purposes of confirmation, are we to understand that the "Information Security Oversight Committee" as mentioned by the Prime Minister, is the structure that is being considered for a third-party organization, which is one of the major issues in current deliberations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, that understanding is correct.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Information has emerged to suggest that Jang Song-taek has been dismissed from his position in North Korea. In what ways is the Government grasping information about this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware of the media reports on this matter. The Government is engaging in close cooperation with the countries concerned, and is currently making efforts to acquire various sources of intelligence about the situation in North Korea with a great concern. In relation to this, we held an extraordinary meeting of the Joint Intelligence Council this morning. The Government will make every effort on this matter, including the collection and analysis of intelligence.

REPORTER: Has the Government received any contact from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on this matter, perhaps from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) of the ROK?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is cooperating closely with the countries concerned, and is engaging in collection and analysis of intelligence.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the matter of Jang Song-taek, can you confirm that the meeting held this morning was of the Joint Intelligence Council?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, it was the Joint Intelligence Council.

REPORTER: Could you give us a brief overview of the Joint Intelligence Council, including its membership and agenda?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The council is chaired by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, and is attended by the Director of Cabinet Intelligence and other senior officials from ministries and agencies engaged in work relating to intelligence.

REPORTER: Does this include officials from the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for example?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes.

REPORTER: Are you also a member?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, I am not a member of this meeting. It is presided over by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary.

REPORTER: Which of the three Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries serves as chair of the meeting? The Parliamentary Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Administrative Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary.

REPORTER: There are some people who believe that there has been a change in the internal power structure of North Korea. What is the Government's view on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is collecting and analyzing all kinds of intelligence on this matter.

REPORTER: You have said that this matter is of great concern to the Government. Was the meeting of the Joint Intelligence Council held on the assumption that there is a certain level of credibility to the reports?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is responding to the matter with the greatest interests.