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 on the ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, and others.)

Q&As
(Abridged)

REPORTER: Ms. Chung Hyun-back, Minister of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea (ROK), mentioned in an interview with an ROK newspaper that the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation, which was established as part of the Japan-ROK agreement on the comfort women, will be disbanded sometime this year. Could you please share your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware of the media reports in question. Japan will continue to strongly urge the ROK Government to steadily implement the Japan-ROK agreement. We have absolutely no intention of budging an inch on the agreement.

REPORTER: I have a follow-up question. As you just mentioned, if the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation is disbanded, it will mean that the agreement is not even being implemented. Am I correct in understanding that the Government of Japan will continue to strongly protest the disbandment of the foundation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This is a commitment between the two countries. We will continue to urge the ROK to thoroughly implement the agreement.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: It is being reported that arrangements are being made for Secretary General Yachi of the National Security Secretariat to visit China in late February and hold a meeting with State Councilor Yang Jiechi. There are also reports that Foreign Minister Kono will also visit China on 27 and 28 January. Could you please confirm the facts behind these reports?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, regarding Foreign Minister Kono’s visit to China, Japan and China have agreed to materialize such a visit as early as possible. With regard to the specific date, the final arrangements are now being made. As for the possibility of a visit by Secretary General Yachi, nothing has been decided.

(Abridged)