Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

1. Opening remarks

(Abridged)

I would like to comment on a meeting of the “council of related ministries and agencies on countermeasures for the Zika virus infectious disease.” This council of related ministries and agencies held a meeting at 9:30 PM last night following the confirmation yesterday of an infection case in Kanagawa Prefecture of a person infected with the Zika virus abroad who entered Japan. While there is almost no concern about this case leading to a spread of the infection because the active period for mosquitos has not started yet, the Government prepared additional responses taking into account the occurrence of this case and other developments at the meeting and intends to continue putting the maximum effort into responses via close collaboration among related ministries and agencies.

(Abridged)

2. Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask about the Zika virus infectious disease. Does the Government think that it needs some type of new measures after the confirmation of an infected person yesterday?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Regarding this problem, the Government has already convened multiple meetings thus far and prepared measures to ready itself for unforeseen circumstances. It decided following the latest case to spread further warnings to travel agents and visitors to areas where the infection has spread. Additionally, it was decided at today’s Cabinet Meeting to give emergency grant assistance worth 110 million yen to the WHO and other entities. In any case, the Government plans to take all necessary measures while working closely with the WHO and affected regions.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Changing topic, I have a question about the Security Council resolution. Today the draft UNSC resolution on North Korea was distributed to Security Council countries. What is the Japanese Government’s view of the draft resolution and does it intend to proceed in favor of or against the draft resolution?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Overall in terms of the resolution, the Security Council held an unofficial meeting in the early hours of today (Japan time) and related countries are currently engaged in final consultations for adoption. My understanding is that the resolution has not been disclosed yet so I will refrain from discussing it.

REPORTER: This is related. While the resolution has not been disclosed yet, is Japan still deciding whether it favors or disagrees with it?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan is closely interacting with the United States and other related countries regarding its view that the resolution should contain very tough measures, and we would naturally vote in favor of adopting the resolution if it moves in this direction. I believe that it has been moving in this direction based on developments thus far.

(Abridged)