Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga
(There were statements about the overview of the Cabinet meeting and others.)
 
 
In today’s Cabinet meeting, it was decided to invite H.E. Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and his spouse, Mrs. Jayanthi Sirisena, to pay an Official Visit to Japan from March 12 to March 15, 2018. During their stay in Japan, the President and his spouse will make a State Call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. Prime Minister Abe will also hold a meeting with the President and host a dinner. Sri Lanka, located at the strategic point on the sea lane and achieving steady economic growth, is an extremely important for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The Government hopes that this visit will further strengthen the bonds and cooperative relations between Japan and Sri Lanka.
 
Q&As
 
(Abridged)
 
REPORTER: I have a question on a different topic. In a telephone talk with President Trump, President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea (ROK) stated that he was planning to send a special envoy to North Korea. This gives the impression that there is a difference between the ROK, on the one hand, and Japan and the United States, on the other, which have emphasized that North Korea must abandon its nuclear and missile development programs for dialogue to take place. What is the view of the Government on this matter?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Government has received information from both the United States and the ROK regarding the exchanges made in the U.S.-ROK summit telephone talk. I would like to refrain from making comments on the outcomes of the special envoy’s visit based on conjecture. What I would say is that it is extremely important for Japan, the United States and the ROK to work closely together on matters pertaining to dialogue with North Korea, and we will continue to closely coordinate our policies toward North Korea. In any event, our position remains unchanged to maintain robust trilateral cooperation and using all means possible to apply pressure to North Korea to make it change its policies.
 
REPORTER: Does the Government consider that the dispatch of the special envoy will lead to moves by North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile development programs?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any event, what will remain unchanged is that Japan, the United States and the ROK will continue to coordinate our policies, applying further pressure on North Korea to make it change its policies.
 
(Abridged)