Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary SugaCHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA:I have one announcement I would like to read out. ;

Tomorrow, February 28, and the day after tomorrow, Prime Minister Abe will visit the disaster-affected areas in Fukushima Prefecture to observe the status of reconstruction, among other things.

On the 28th, the Prime Minister will visit public housing for disaster victims in Koriyama City and a children’s facility in Motomiya City. On March 1, the Prime Minister will attend the opening ceremony of the Joban Expressway in Tomioka Town. He will also tour the areas of the reconstruction hubs and the planned construction site for interim storage facilities in Futaba Town. The Prime Minister is expected to hold exchanges of views during these visits.

The Prime Minister will visit the children’s facility on the 28th with H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge of the United Kingdom, who is visiting Japan. On the same day, the Prime Minister will host a welcome dinner for H.R.H. the Duke. The visit to the disaster-affected areas by H.R.H. the Duke will give much encouragement to the affected people and will also help to inform the world about the current status of reconstruction. The Japanese Government welcomes the visit.

I will now take your questions.

Q&As
- Japan-ROK relations

(Abridged)

REPORTER: President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea (ROK) announced the appointment of Mr. Lee Byung-kee, previous ROK Ambassador to Japan, to the post of Presidential Chief of Staff. I believe former Ambassador Lee is also an old acquaintance of yours. Considering that former Ambassador Lee was chosen, do you perceive that the ROK wishes to improve Japan-ROK relations? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, I am aware that today the Office of the President of the ROK announced the appointment of Mr. Lee Byung-kee, Director of the National Intelligence Service, as the next Presidential Chief of Staff. My impression is that Mr. Lee Byung-kee made great efforts towards Japan-ROK relations during his ambassadorship in Japan. We are on such terms that we were able to hold very candid exchanges of views. I wish him success in his new position. I have high expectations that Mr. Lee Byung-kee will continue to exert great efforts for Japan-ROK relations.   

(Abridged)