Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As
 
REPORTER: According to some media outlets, the Kim Jong-un administration of North Korea has begun giving briefings to senior officials of the Workers’ Party of Korea that a Japan-North Korea summit meeting could be held as early as at the beginning of June. Could you please share with us the Government’s views over the necessity of such a summit meeting and any prospect of the timing?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, we have engaged in exchanges with North Korea through the embassy route in Beijing and by making use of a variety of other opportunities and means. Having said that, I would like to refrain from disclosing the details of the exchanges.
 
REPORTER: It has been two years since the security legislation entered into force. The Government has conducted new types of operations, such as protection of U.S. vessels, in accordance with the security legislation. Could you tell us your thoughts on the significance of the enactment of this legislation?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, we consider that it is the greatest responsibility of the Government to protect the lives and peaceful livelihoods of the Japanese people in any situation. The Abe administration has taken steady steps, including developing the Legislation for Peace and Security. Two years have passed since the legislation entered into force. During this period, the deterrence of the Japan-U.S. Alliance has become ever more important given the increasing severity of the security environment surrounding Japan, including the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. The objective of the Legislation for Peace and Security is to prevent conflicts by having a robust Japan-U.S. Alliance. This legislation, I believe, has made the Japan-U.S. Alliance unprecedentedly robust and strengthened its deterrence. The Government will continue to implement the Legislation for Peace and Security effectively and exert every effort in our responses with a sense of urgency to protect the lives and peaceful livelihoods of the Japanese people in any situation.
 
REPORTER: I have a question regarding this security legislation. The budget for the next fiscal year that was passed yesterday includes expenses related to the introduction of the Aegis Ashore system and other items. Such moves to integrate operations of the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the U.S. Forces have been noticeable since the passage of the security legislation. The Government has expressed the view that the Aegis Ashore system is a purely defensive system, while Russia and China see it as a threat. Is it still the Government’s defense policy to act in unity with the U.S. Forces?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan is an ally of the United States, which have formed a bilateral security alliance. In this context, the next fiscal year’s budget includes the expenses for the introduction of the Aegis Ashore system. This system is vital for the defense of Japan in light of the changes in the situation surrounding our country, and for this reason we are to install this system. Making our own efforts for national defense is also effective for our defense cooperation with the United States. We recognize that this equipment is purely for defense purposes and, therefore, could not become a threat to our surrounding countries.
 
(Abridged)