Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As
 
(Abridged)
 
REPORTER: Vice President Pence of the United States gave a public lecture and, with regard to North Korean issues, stated that President Trump always attaches importance to dialogue, which is different from negotiating and is about understanding each other. I believe that the Vice President has indicated that dialogue was necessary to press North Korea for denuclearization. Could you please share your comments?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRTARY SUGA: During the summit telephone talk held last night, Prime Minister Abe and President Trump confirmed that they would continue to put maximum pressure on North Korea, which is still developing nuclear weapons and missiles, and that meaningful dialogue with North Korea could not be achieved without the premise of the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization. The position of the Government of the United States regarding dialogue with North Korea is clear, and we consider that there is no disagreement between the views of the President and Vice President.
 
(Abridged)
 
REPORTER: I would like to return to the earlier question concerning the remarks made by Vice President Pence. Vice President Pence seemed to state that a dialogue between the United States and North Korea could be possible if it did not lead to negotiation, even if the talk was not held on the premise of the denuclearization. Does the Government of Japan hold the same position that it could hold such a dialogue which does not lead to negotiation even before North Korea committed to the denuclearization?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRTARY SUGA: I do not know the details of what Vice President Pence stated. The President and the Prime Minister reached a shared understanding in the manner I noted earlier. Needless to say, we believe there is no disagreement between the views of the President and Vice President.