Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

(Abridged)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Prime Minister Abe will visit Brazil on August 21. In Brazil, the Prime Minister will attend the closing ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games as well as hold exchanges with the members of the Japanese Olympic Team and Brazilian nationals of Japanese descent. The Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games are important games as Tokyo will be hosting the next summer Olympic Games. The Prime Minister’s attendance of the closing ceremony is expected to deepen friendly relations between Japan and Brazil through sports and contribute to the success of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding Japan’s response to North Korea which has launched a ballistic missile. Despite the United Nations Security Council’s adoption of a robust sanctions resolution in March, North Korea has not refrained from missile launches. Do you perceive that the sanctions invoked by member states based on the resolution are proving to be sufficiently effective?  

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the Security Council resolution adopted in March of this year significantly strengthened sanctions against North Korea. In addition, relevant countries including Japan implement their own tough sanctions. To ensure the effectiveness of the resolution, it is vital that Japan continues to coordinate closely with the relevant countries and the United Nations. To prevent North Korea’s provocations, it is essential that countries steadily implement this resolution and their own measures. Japan will coordinate with the relevant countries in urging North Korea to strictly follow the Security Council resolution. 

REPORTER: I have a related question. The Government of Japan has been appealing the need for steady implementation of sanctions in accordance with the Security Council resolution. Do you perceive that the relevant countries are faithfully implementing sanctions based on the resolution?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We consider that many countries are.

REPORTER: I have one more related question. The sanctions resolution of March states that further significant measures would be taken in the event of a further nuclear test or ballistic missile launch. What is your view of this statement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I said, Japan, under the leadership of the United Nations, is making every effort from the perspective of which sanctions would be most effective against North Korea.

(Abridged)