Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga
(There were statements on the overview of the Cabinet meeting and others.)

On November 29, North Korea conducted an outrageous act of launching a ballistic missile that landed within Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), in complete disregard of the strong and unified will of the international community. This act illustrates the necessity of increasing pressure to cause North Korea to change its policies. Furthermore, North Korea has not demonstrated any concrete actions toward the resolution of the abductions issue, which is a top priority for the Abe administration. In order to comprehensively resolve various issues of concern, including abductions, nuclear and missile issues, in today’s Cabinet meeting as a further measure by Japan we approved the designation of an additional 19 entities as subject to measures such as asset freeze. Japan will continue to strongly urge North Korea to take concrete actions toward the resolution of outstanding matters of concern, including the nuclear and missile program issues and the abduction issue, our top priority issue, based on the consistent policy of “dialogue and pressure” and “action for action.”

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question about Japan’s new measures against North Korea. Are all the entities that are subject to the measures announced today North Korean?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: All of the 19 entities and individuals that are the subject of these latest measures are North Korean.

REPORTER: In how many countries are these entities located?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, we are currently advancing procedures to announce the names of the entities and individuals that are subject to asset freezes. Once the notification is issued and the asset freeze and other measures are in place, I would ask that you inquire with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the details.

REPORTER: Various countries, including the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK), are currently strengthening their own measures against North Korea. Can we take it that Japan is aligned with the measures that are being taken by other countries?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Government has considered its response to date by closely monitoring the reaction of North Korea to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that was adopted in September and the separate measures by Japan that were decided on November 7. In addition to the launch on November 29 of a ballistic missile believed to be an ICBM-class ballistic missile, which landed in Japan’s EEZ, North Korea has repeatedly engaged in provocations, and neither has any concrete progress been achieved with regard to the abduction issue. It is in view of this situation, and also given the opportunity provided by the United Nations Security Council briefing on Non-proliferation that Japan is to chair on December 15, that the Government has decided on the latest asset freeze and other measures, from the perspective of further increasing pressure on North Korea.

REPORTER: I have a point of confirmation. Is it the case that the subjects of the latest measures are all entities?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, that is the case.

REPORTER: Are we to understand that these entities are also all subject to the independent sanctions announced by the United States?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would ask that you direct your inquiry to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further details.

REPORTER: With the addition of these 19 entities, what is the total number of entities and individuals that are now subject to the measures separately implemented by Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would ask that you also direct your question on that point to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

(Abridged)