Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: In an interview with local media yesterday, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of the United States expressed the view that the United States and North Korea are getting close to a military conflict. In the same interview, he also advocated that the family members of U.S. Forces Korea personnel be moved out of the Republic of Korea (ROK), and that the United States stop sending more family members of U.S. Forces Korea personnel to the ROK. The North Korean threat keeps rising in Japan. Has the Government of Japan held any discussions with the Government of the United States concerning the possibility of moving the dependents and their children of U.S. Forces Japan out of Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the most important responsibility of the Government is to make utmost efforts to protect and rescue Japanese nationals if they are in danger overseas. Accordingly, the Government constantly envisions a variety of scenarios that will require the protection and evacuation of Japanese nationals living on the Korean Peninsula and is conducting the necessary preparations and reviews under normal circumstances. In particular, North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles pose an unprecedentedly grave and imminent threat, and the security situation surrounding North Korea is increasing in severity. Meanwhile, the current situation will not have immediate impact on the safety of Japanese nationals in the ROK, and we do not believe it is necessary to issue alerts about travel to and evacuation from the ROK. In any event, the Government will take all possible measures to ensure that it is ready to respond to any situation. At the same time, the Government envisions a variety of situations in order to protect the lives and property of the people of Japan, and is conducting the necessary preparations and reviews.

REPORTER: Is it correct to understand then that you are not considering any new measures in particular?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government has always understood that if an emergency situation were to arise on the Korean Peninsula, the most important thing to do is obtain the cooperation of the United States from the perspective of ensuring the safety of Japanese nationals living on the Peninsula. Based on this understanding, in relation to the United States, it is already stated in the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation that Japan and the United States will cooperate on operations related to the evacuation of noncombatants from a third country. In addition, it is already established that the two countries will continue to cooperate in accordance with the Guidelines. The Government of Japan is always working closely with the Government of the ROK as well, to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in the ROK.