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.)
 
The Cabinet approved the holding of the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit from June 28 to 29. In order to make preparations in unity towards the success of the Summit, the Government has decided to establish a Liaison Council for the G20 Osaka Summit in the Cabinet Secretariat. The Council is chaired by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sugita and consists of relevant ministries and agencies.
　　
Q&As
 
(Abridged)
 
REPORTER: Could you tell us the comment made by the Prime Minister regarding the G20 Summit at today’s Cabinet meeting?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Prime Minister stated the following: “Today, with the approval of the Cabinet, the Government officially decided to hold the ‘Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy,’ or the G20 Summit, in Osaka on June 28 and 29, 2019, the year in which Japan holds the G20 Presidency. In order to make preparations in unity towards the success of the G20 Osaka Summit, it has been decided to establish a Liaison Council for the G20 Osaka Summit, chaired by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sugita and consisting of relevant ministries and agencies. I would like to ask all the relevant ministries and agencies for their full cooperation, thoroughly taking into consideration the significance of the G20 Osaka Summit.”
 
REPORTER: Could you tell us if the schedule for the first meeting of the Liaison Council has been decided and if so when it will take place?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Nothing has been decided yet as the Prime Minister has just only issued instructions today.
 
(Abridged)
 
REPORTER: Regarding the G20 Summit, you mentioned that the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting was also mentioned as well. Was there anything newly decided, such as the date of the meeting?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Nothing in particular was decided with regard to that meeting.
 
REPORTER: Foreign Minister Kono is scheduled to visit the Republic of Korea (ROK) from today. Could you tell us what outcomes the Government expects from his visit? At the Japan-ROK foreign ministers’ meeting to be held, will they discuss issues such as a Japan-North Korea summit meeting?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, given the developments to hold the inter-Korean Summit and U.S.-North Korea summit meeting, it is of the utmost importance for Japan, the United States and the ROK to fully share information and closely coordinate their respective policies. Foreign Minister Kono’s visit is being planned from just such a perspective. At the meeting, they are to confirm our policy to maintain the maximum pressure campaign to ensure that North Korea abandons its nuclear and missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner as well as the cooperation between our two countries towards the resolution of the abduction issue. We will also be seeking to confirm our close cooperation in order to advance the Japan-ROK relationship in a future-oriented manner.