Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As
 
REPORTER: I have a question regarding the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting, which will be held in Singapore tomorrow. Japan has been coordinating the policies with the United States and other countries in the run-up to this summit meeting. What outcomes is the Government expecting?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, at the Japan-U.S. summit meeting, which was held in Washington D.C. last week, the leaders shared the view that Japan and the United States, as well as Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea (ROK), would coordinate closely to ensure that the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting would be a historic meeting marking progress on the issues of concern, including the abduction, nuclear, and missile issues. The United States and North Korea are currently making arrangements towards tomorrow’s summit meeting. Japan will also continue to maintain communication through various channels and cooperate thoroughly so as to make the summit meeting a success and ensure that it could be called a historic meeting.
REPORTER: President Trump has promised to raise the abduction issue in the summit meeting. What is your outlook for the abduction issue at the current point in time?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In last week’s Japan-U.S. summit meeting, Prime Minister Abe once again explained the abduction issue, including the earnest desire of the families of the abductees to achieve resolution, and received an assurance from President Trump that he would raise the abduction issue at the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting. With respect to this issue, we will cooperate with President Trump and the international community. At the same time, there is no change in our intention that Japan will directly have consultations with North Korea and resolve this issue. To begin with, we would like to engage in close cooperation between Japan and the United States so as to make progress on the abduction, nuclear and missile issues so as to make the historical U.S.-North Korea summit meeting. Meanwhile, regarding the consultations between Japan and North Korea towards the resolution of the issues of outstanding concern, including the abduction issue,  I would like to refrain from conjecturing at the current point in time. .
 
REPORTER: At the current point, in what format does the Government envisage that President Trump will report to Prime Minister Abe about the outcomes after the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are currently at the stage of giving considerations of various options.