Press Conference by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Prime Minister Abe has expressed an intention to hold a Japan-ROK summit meeting coinciding with the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Olympic Games and convey Japan’s position on the comfort women agreement. Does the Government intend to refuse making a further apology that the Republic of Korea (ROK) is hoping for? In addition, I have a question regarding the 1 billion yen contributed by the Government of Japan. The ROK has indicated that it wishes to hold talks regarding the handling of this contribution. How does the Government intend to deal with this?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY NOGAMI: Circumstances permitting, Prime Minister Abe is scheduled to visit the ROK and attend the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Olympic Games to be held on February 9. If Prime Minister Abe’s visit to the ROK is realized, the Prime Minister intends to hold a Japan-ROK summit meeting with President Moon Jae-in. When a Japan-ROK summit meeting takes place, the Government’s position regarding the North Korean issues and the comfort women issue would likely be conveyed. I would like to refrain from conjecturing on the detailed discussions that would be made on both issues at the summit meeting. Having said that, with respect to the comfort women issue, we must convey directly and clearly that it is absolutely unacceptable for the ROK to unilaterally request further measures related to the Japan-ROK agreement. The Japan-ROK agreement is a commitment made by two countries. The Government has implemented everything it has promised in good faith. We will continue to strongly urge the ROK to implement what was promised.

REPORTER: I have a follow-up question. The Prime Minister has expressed that he would like to confirm the concerted efforts between Japan and the ROK to deal with North Korea. Will the agenda include the topic of ensuring the safety of Japanese nationals in the ROK in emergencies?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY NOGAMI: If the Japan-ROK summit meeting is materialized, the Government’s position on the North Korean issues will be conveyed. However, as I stated earlier, I would like to refrain from conjecturing on the detailed discussions that would be made at the summit meeting. Having said that, North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and missiles continues while the inter-Korean dialogue is taking place towards the success of the Pyeongchang Olympic and Paralympic Games. We must not deviate at all from our current policy to put maximum pressure on North Korea by all means so as to compel it to change its policies. I anticipate that this point will also be conveyed clearly to President Moon Jae-in.

(Abridged)