Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga
 
(Abridged)
 
Q&As
 
(Abridged)
 
REPORTER: I have a question regarding the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting. Secretary of State Pompeo held meetings with Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol and stated that they made substantial progress. He also mentioned that any agreement between the United States and North Korea would require the consent of Japan and the Republic of Korea as well. Could you please share the Government’s understanding of the current state of the arrangements and its views on that?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, on May 30 and 31 (local time), Secretary of State Pompeo held meetings with Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea during his visit to the United States, and they held discussions in the run-up to the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting. We are also aware that they are continuing to engage in discussions. Japan believes that the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting will serve as an important opportunity for making substantial progress on the nuclear and missile issues, as well as the abduction issue, which is a matter of the utmost importance. Japan strongly hopes that the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting will be materialized and that it contributes to the resolution of all of the outstanding issues of concern. Japan and the United States have engaged in close policy coordination to date. That being said, we would like to receive a thorough briefing from the United States regarding Vice Chairman Kim’s current visit.
 
REPORTER: Is a telephone talk between Secretary of State Pompeo and Foreign Minister Kono or some other form of communication being arranged?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are not aware of that at this point in time.
 
(Abridged)