Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the Japan-ROK summit meeting. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Abe stated that the two sides agreed to accelerate the negotiations on the comfort women issue to reach an agreement as quickly as possible. Is this statement consistent with the position that the Japanese Government has been asserting based on the Agreement on the Settlement of Problem concerning Property and Claims and on the Economic Cooperation between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) of 1965, which is that the comfort women issue has already been settled completely and finally? Please tell us your view.    

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, today, a Japan-ROK summit meeting was held from around 10 am, and the entire meeting, including a small-group meeting, lasted for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. I understand that a candid and meaningful exchange of views took place between the two leaders. In particular, during the small-group meeting, which was held for about one hour, candid discussions took place on the various outstanding issues between Japan and the ROK. Prime Minister Abe stated Japan’s position and requested responses from the ROK side. In this context, with regard to the comfort women issue, the two leaders agreed to continue to hold consultations and to instruct that the consultations are accelerated to reach an agreement as quickly as possible, bearing in mind that this is a milestone year that marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-ROK relations. In addition, during the 45-minute expanded meeting, the two leaders praised the fact that their bilateral relations had made small but steady strides due to the efforts to maintain communication between the two countries. Furthermore, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation between Japan and the ROK in a variety of areas, including security, people-to-people exchanges, and economy, and discussed issues concerning North Korea. It is important that the leaders continue to maintain close communication with each other, in terms of enhancing the bilateral relationship through mutual exchanges of candid views regarding a variety of challenges and outstanding issues. In this sense, I believe today’s summit meeting represents a good start. With regard to the comfort women issue, Japan’s position remains unchanged. The issues of property and claims have already been settled legally by the Agreement on the Settlement of Problem concerning Property and Claims and on the Economic Cooperation between Japan and the Republic of Korea of 1965. At the same time, however, we recognize that the comfort women issue has implications for the deepening of Japan-ROK relations. In light of this, the ongoing consultations will be continued and accelerated in order to swiftly resolve this situation.

(Abridged)