Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: According to some press reports, it seems that it has been decided that Prime Minister Abe has put off his attendance to the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. Could you tell us the current status?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government has received an invitation from the Republic of Korea (ROK) for the Prime Minister to attend the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, but as I have noted previously, the matter of the Prime Minister’s attendance is being considered in light of the Diet schedule.

REPORTER: So, is it the case at the current time that no decision has been made?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Nothing has been decided. We are still considering the matter.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Returning to the matter of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, when do you expect that the Government will make a final decision about the Prime Minister’s attendance?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That depends on the Diet schedule. The Diet has yet to determine how to proceed its debate around that timing. We will consider the Prime Minister’s attendance in light of such matters.

REPORTER: The Government of the United States has announced that Vice President Pence will attend the PyeongChang Games and that he will also pay a visit to Japan. What is the current status of arrangements for his visit to Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Government welcomes the visit to Japan by Vice President Pence. The visit will be an extremely good opportunity to show the robust Japan-U.S. Alliance domestically and internationally. We will also have  a good chance to engage in in-depth exchanges of views and coordinate policies in response to North Korea. The specific schedule of the Vice President’s visit has yet to be determined. We will be making the necessary arrangements with the U.S.

REPORTER: Will the Vice President be meeting with Prime Minister Abe?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We will be making arrangements from now for the Vice President’s visit, including a meeting with the Prime Minister.

REPORTER: Given that Vice President Pence will attend the PyeongChang Games, is one of the options for the Government to send someone other than the Prime Minister to attend, such as the Deputy Prime Minister?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is also something we will be considering from now.

REPORTER: What is the Government’s analysis and evaluation of the decision by the United States to send Vice President Pence to attend the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Games?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from commenting on a matter that concerns third countries.

REPORTER: According to some press reports, in a summit telephone talk with President Moon Jae-in of the ROK, President Trump has made clear that the United States would not engage in any military action while inter-Korean dialogue is taking place. In addition, he apparently noted that it is also not true that the United States is considering military action and that at the appropriate time and under the right conditions the United States could engage in dialogue with North Korea. What is the view and understanding of the Government of Japan on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from commenting on behalf of the Government on each of the individual press reports.

(Abridged)