Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to provide an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 14 general and other measures, draft legislation, cabinet orders, and a personnel decision. With regard to statements by ministers, I made a statement on the status of the Cabinet meeting regarding the draft bills and treaties that the Cabinet plans to submit to the 189th session of the Diet, among other matters.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare made a statement concerning cooperation for initiatives to reduce work performed outside of work hours, and I made a statement concerning arrangements for contacting Cabinet members and other officials during the holiday period in early May, as well as which officials will be staying in Tokyo during this period.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: North Korea has condemned the police search of the home of the head of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and other related matters, and indicated that it may suspend the Japan-North Korea intergovernmental consultations. I would like to ask about how the Government plans to respond, and also whether you have already lodged a protest with North Korea.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: To date, Japan has sincerely adhered to the agreement reached between Japan and North Korea in May last year. The Government of Japan cannot accept the recent announcement by North Korea in any way. We consider the matter to be extremely regrettable. The Government has continued to strongly urge North Korea to conduct its investigations swiftly and notify the results to Japan in a prompt and honest manner, in accordance with the agreement reached between the two sides. As for the search you mentioned, this was conducted by the police in a straightforward manner in accordance with the law and based on legal evidence.

(Abridged)