Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question in regard to President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima. The White House Press Secretary underscored in his press conference that the significance of the visit was to send a forward-looking signal for realizing a planet without nuclear weapons. What significance should this visit have for realizing a world without nuclear weapons? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government considers it extremely important that those in the rank of world leader visit this atomic bombing site, visit the site where a nuclear weapon brought considerable tragedy to humankind, and send a message to the world that creating circumstances to ensure that nuclear weapons are never utilized again is vital to have a peaceful and secure world without nuclear weapons.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: A short while ago, at a meeting of the Committee on Audit and Oversight of Administration of the House of Representatives, Mr. Mikio Shimoji, a member of the Initiatives from Osaka party, stated that a senior member of Universal Studios Japan (USJ) came to the Prime Minister’s Office today and conveyed that the company decided not to open a theme park in Okinawa. Is this true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This morning, Mr. Jean-Louis Bonnier, Representative Director and CEO of USJ, visited Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Izumi and informed him that USJ would not open a park in Okinawa. I understand USJ said that it was reviewing its business under a new management structure, and that in this context, it decided to focus its investments on the Universal Studios in Osaka and not open a park in Okinawa. While this is a business decision of a private company, it is very regrettable that it will not be building a park in Okinawa. In any case, the Government remains committed to the promotion and development of Okinawa.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding North Korea. Recently, during the Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, North Korea made clear its intention to increase its nuclear assets as a nuclear power of the East. How does the Japanese Government intend to form unity at the Summit in order to prevent North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, we consider that North Korea needs to comply with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and realize its own denuclearization before making such entirely selfish and unilateral assertions. The Government will continue to work with the relevant countries, including the United States and the Republic of Korea, as well as seize opportunities such as the G7 Ise-Shima Summit to urge North Korea to faithfully execute the Security Council resolutions.

(Abridged)