Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

A short while ago, the National Security Council (NSC) held its second meeting of the day. Deliberations took place on the nuclear test conducted by North Korea.

With regard to the three instructions issued by the Prime Minister today, the Prime Minister instructed the relevant agencies to continue working closely and dealing with the situation properly. In addition, the Prime Minister instructed that the Government strengthen collaboration with the countries concerned, including efforts in the United Nations Security Council, and also that the Government consider strong measures against North Korea, taking into account future responses by North Korea and the developments in the international community.

In any case, the Government will continue to take all possible measures with a sense of urgency.

I would like to ask the Japanese people to go about their lives calmly and as usual.

Q&As 

REPORTER: You stated just now that the Prime Minister instructed that the Government consider strong measures. Has the Government decided what its policy would be on strengthening sanctions?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, Japan and the United States have already jointly requested Uruguay, which has presidency of the UN Security Council, to hold an emergency Security Council meeting. I cannot make any speculative comments regarding the detailed outlook of future consultations. That said, in response to today’s nuclear test, which is a clear violation of a series of Security Council resolutions, Japan is coordinating and collaborating closely with the countries concerned, including both the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK), in order to swiftly adopt a new resolution in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2094.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Minister Kato also joined the NSC meeting. If Japan strengthened its sanctions, North Korea could harden its posture and this could move us further away from resolving the abduction issue. Was the Government’s policy in this regard discussed at the meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated moments ago, in response to today’s nuclear test, Japan is requesting that the UN Security Council promptly hold consultations. In addition, including efforts in the UN Security Council, Japan will strengthen cooperative relations with the countries concerned. Japan will also consider strong measures against North Korea, including Japan’s own measures, taking into account future responses by North Korea and the developments in the international community.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: A related question. The family members of abductees have expressed their hope that the Government continue the negotiations on the abduction issue as a separate matter from this nuclear issue. Minister Kato was also present at the meeting earlier. Do you believe that changes of some kind are needed in Japan’s policy on the negotiations towards resolving the abduction issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The abduction issue is a top priority of the Abe Cabinet. Therefore, the Government will steadily address the abduction issue by fully examining what is most important in making progress on this issue.

REPORTER: I have a question concerning this matter. You stated a short while ago that Japan would consider strengthening sanctions and so on, taking into account the responses by North Korea. Today, North Korea conducted a nuclear test. Why does Japan then still need to take into account the responses by North Korea?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated earlier, the position of the Government is clear. Japan is requesting that the Security Council hold an emergency meeting. In addition, since it is becoming clear that the nuclear test was a violation of the series of Security Council resolutions, Japan will first coordinate with the countries concerned to adopt a new Security Council resolution. Meanwhile, the abduction issue is an issue unique to Japan. It is in a sense logical that Japan would address this issue while taking into account the responses by North Korea.

REPORTER: I have a related question. I understand that Japan communicated its strong protest to North Korea through diplomatic channels. Has Japan received any response from North Korea regarding this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have not yet been informed of North Korea’s response.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I am sorry to keep confirming about the same matter, but I would like to confirm about Japan’s sanctions. A short while ago, you stated that the Government would address the abduction issue by examining what is most important in making progress on this issue. Does this mean that the Government is taking the impacts on the abduction issue into account in considering whether or not to impose Japan’s own sanctions, or even if it does, to what extent they would be imposed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government recognizes that the abduction issue is a top priority of the Abe Cabinet. Simultaneously, North Korea indeed conducted a nuclear test that violates numerous past Security Council resolutions. Therefore, in response to this, Japan is currently taking actions to swiftly adopt a new resolution. In this context, Japan is considering strong measures against North Korea, including Japan’s own measures, taking fully into account the responses by North Korea and the actions of the countries concerned.

REPORTER: Japan is requesting the UN Security Council to hold a meeting and will take strong measures as a member of the Security Council. When Japan takes its own measures, it will need to consider an important issue, which is the abduction issue that is unique to Japan. How will the relationship between Japan’s sanctions and the abduction issue be conceived? How will you consider the impact of Japan’s sanctions on the progress of the abduction issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I said, Japan has thus far addressed the issues collectively in a sense, including the abduction issue and the nuclear and missile issue. First, since it is clear that today’s nuclear test is a violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, Japan is requesting that thorough measures be taken in response. In addition, there was reference to China a short while ago. The Prime Minister instructed Japan to take measures against North Korea by steadily coordinating with the various countries concerned—the United States and the ROK, of course, as well as countries such as China and Russia. Therefore, it is logical that Japan fully examines its measures while taking into account the relevant developments.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I gather that North Korea’s action today has even larger implications for the security of Northeast Asia. In the lead-up to a possible contingency in North Korea, what is your view regarding accelerating the consultations with the ROK for eliminating the restrictions on Self-Defense Force operations in North Korea?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In response to today’s nuclear test, Japan has first requested the UN Security Council to swiftly hold consultations in order to take measures as an international community. Simultaneously, Japan will, as a matter of course, strengthen collaboration with the countries concerned, such as the United States and the ROK. At the same time, Japan will closely follow future responses by North Korea and the developments in the international community. In any case, Japan considers it important that Japan, the United States, and the ROK first coordinate closely and hold adequate consultations regarding measures against North Korea. Furthermore, Japan will deal with the situation by working with countries that have influence on North Korea, namely, China and Russia.

(Abridged)