Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As
 
REPORTER: I have a question regarding the Japan-China-Republic of Korea (ROK) Trilateral Summit Meeting to be held tomorrow. Prime Minister Abe has just stated in the plenary session of the House of Representatives that he expects to have in-depth exchanges of views about North Korea. What outcomes is the Government expecting with regard to the North Korean issues?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, this summit is being held at a very important juncture, shortly after the inter-Korean summit and ahead of the upcoming U.S.-North Korea summit meeting. It is against this backdrop that the agenda and the expected outcomes of the Trilateral Summit Meeting are currently being finalized. The Government hopes that the three countries would set out a unified path concerning the response to North Korea.
 
REPORTER: To date the Government of Japan has strongly emphasized nuclear dismantlement in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner with respect to the denuclearization of North Korea. Does the Government consider that the three countries should reach a shared view on this point too?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The view of the Government is exactly as you described it and I would imagine that it should be one of the items on the agenda.
 
REPORTER: I have a question related to the developments in China. It appears that a dignitary is visiting Dalian in northeastern China. Could you tell us any information the Government has concerning this matter?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is constantly gathering and analyzing information with great interest with respect to the moves of North Korea. As such, we are always gathering and analyzing information with great interest including the activities in Dalian that you have just mentioned.
 
REPORTER: The media in ROK is reporting that Chairman Kim Jong-un of North Korea could be making another visit to China. What is the Government’s analysis on this point?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are gathering and analyzing information with great interest. The Government would like to refrain from making comments.
 
(Abridged)