Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The Japan-North Korea government-level consultation
• The issue of the right of collective self-defense

REPORTER: I have a question about the Japan-North Korea government-level consultations. This morning you received a report on the consultations from Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki. Could you tell us about the state of progress following the end of the second day of consultations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I received a report today, which noted that following on from the previous day, the consultations were held from 10 am to 9 pm, including breaks. The discussions continue to be held in a severe atmosphere. As the consultations are ongoing I would like to refrain from commenting about specific exchanges of opinions or making any speculative comments about the way forward for the consultations.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: In the consultations to date, has there been any positive indication from North Korea about reinvestigating the cases of the abduction victims?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As the consultations are still in session I would like to refrain from making any comment about specific interactions, but this is something that Japan is of course calling strongly for. In any case, hard discussions are in fact taking place.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Today, in the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Abe responded to a question concerning the right of collective self-defense. He noted that he had never said that Japan would protect only U.S. vessels, thus indicating an intention to use the right of collective self-defense to protect countries other than the United States. Which specific countries did he have in mind?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I was in the plenary meeting of the House of Representatives and therefore I am not aware of what was said in the Budget Committee. However, as the Prime Minister stated in his recent press conference, in order to ensure seamless legislation for the purpose of protecting the lives and property of the people of Japan and securing the safety of the nation, the Government is requesting that the Diet deliberate such legislation. Ultimately the premise is to protect the lives and property of the people of Japan and secure the safety of the nation. In any case, I am not aware of the specific details as I did not hear the Prime Minister’s remarks.