Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

(Abridged)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At today’s Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet approved the invitation for an official visit to Japan by Prime Minister Phuc of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and his spouse. They will be visiting Japan from June 4 to 8. During their stay in Japan, the Prime Minister and his spouse will be received in audience by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. In addition, Prime Minister Abe will hold a meeting with Prime Minister Phuc and host a dinner in his honor. Japan and Viet Nam have enhanced their friendship and cooperative relations based on their Extensive Strategic Partnership, and we expect that the visit to Japan by Prime Minister Phuc and his spouse will further deepen the ties and cooperative relations between the two countries.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to change the subject. On May 27, it will be one year since former President Obama of the United States visited Hiroshima. In his speech Mr. Obama called for the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons. Through today, however, North Korea has proceeded to develop nuclear weapons and President Trump has vowed to enhance the U.S. nuclear arsenal. It appears that we are moving farther away from a world free of nuclear weapons that Mr. Obama had called for. Can you please share your views?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, I cannot believe that. It has already been one year since former President Obama visited Hiroshima. I believe this first visit by a sitting U.S. President to Hiroshima was an extremely historic visit, during which the President offered condolences for all those who lost their lives and sent out a powerful message for realizing a world free of nuclear weapons, from a city that suffered from an atomic bombing, out to the world. Furthermore, I believe the visit served as an opportunity for Japan and the United States, enemies that had previously fought each other, to demonstrate the strength of the Japan-U.S. Alliance that has been developed over the more than 70 years since the end of World War II, as well as the strength of our alliance of hope. The security situation is severe due to North Korea and other factors. We are facing an increasingly severe security situation with the confrontation between nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon states becoming more acute. In particular, North Korea’s nuclear weapons pose a more imminent threat to Japan. The safety and security of the Japanese people cannot be protected solely by the belief in the inherent goodness of human beings. Under these circumstances, the Government has passed the Law on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets and the Legislation for Peace and Security, and is now making every effort with the resolve to protect the peace and security of the Japanese people at any time in any situation.