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.)

Following the Cabinet meeting today, Prime Minister Abe chaired the fourth meeting of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Promotion Headquarters . The meeting approved the “SDGs Action Plan 2018,” which sets out a direction and stipulates major initiatives for demonstrating to the world a “future vision for a prosperous and vibrant society” that could be achieved through the promotion of the SDGs, against the backdrop of a declining birthrate, aging population and globalization. Following the meeting, the first conferment ceremony for the Japan SDGs Award was held, in which from among the more than 280 organizations that applied, one organization received the Chairperson’s Award , five organizations received the Vice-Chairperson’s Award , and six organizations received Special Awards . Next year the Government will steadily implement the Action Plan, seeking to crystallize and further expand initiatives and actively promote domestically and overseas best practices among the public-private initiatives.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) agreement on the comfort women issue. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha of the ROK has commented, on the review of the Japan-ROK agreement whose  results are expected to be announced tomorrow, that the reviews point out the insufficient communication with the victims in the process leading to the agreement. Can I ask for a comment from the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from commenting on individual statements made by the Foreign Minister of the ROK and I understand that the results of the review have not yet been announced. That said, it is a fact that the Japan-ROK agreement regarding the comfort women represents an international commitment made by the leaders of the two countries and it is therefore of the utmost importance for the agreement to be steadily implemented.

REPORTER: What are your thoughts on a review process being conducted into the agreement you have just described, in a way that seeks to throw suspicion on the content of the agreement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government does not intend to comment on the internal affairs of the ROK. Meanwhile, this commitment has been highly appreciated by the international community and it is therefore of the utmost importance for both countries to implement it in good faith.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question about the situation in North Korea. According to the JoongAng Daily newspaper of the ROK, the ROK military and government authorities apparently have information that suggests North Korea is planning to launch a missile disguised as a “satellite”  in the near future and are intensively monitoring the situation. What are the facts that the Government of Japan is aware of?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Government is collecting and analyzing the necessary information about North Korea’s actions, in cooperation with the United States and the ROK. We also engage with a sense of urgency in a special monitoring and surveillance posture that is in place at all times to ensure the safety and security of the people of Japan. Due to the nature of the matter, I would like to refrain from touching upon the details of this analysis.

REPORTER: In February last year, North Korea practically launched a ballistic missile disguised as a “satellite,” and more recently North Korea through its media has been repeatedly emphasizing the country’s intention to carry out space development programs. What is the Government’s view of North Korea’s space development programs?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, North Korea has not changed its position of continuing to develop ballistic missiles. Given that it could engage in further provocations, including the launch of a ballistic missile disguised as a “satellite,” the Government is taking all possible steps to conduct maximum monitoring and surveillance over the military moves by North Korea.

(Abridged)