Press Conferences

Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I will visit the United States from tomorrow, June 6. I plan to return to Japan on June 9.

Reporter: You say that you will visit the United States, but in the context of the approaching US-North Korea summit, do you want to confirm again the nature of the cooperation between Japan and the US?

Minister Kono: In the lead-up to the US-North Korea summit, I intend to confirm the additional necessary matters between Japan and the United States; furthermore I intend to go to the US in order to properly carry out the necessary tasks that must be carried out before the summit meeting.

Reporter: The other day, in the US-North Korea consultations, President Trump stated that he did not want to use the words “maximum pressure.” What is your reaction to that statement, and how do you analyze it?

Minister Kono: I think it probably means that when President Trump announced that he had cancelled the US-North Korea Summit Meeting, he said there were still many options regarding sanctions, but now that the US-North Korea Summit Meeting is going to be held, it is no longer necessary to enforce them, and he wants North Korea to behave in such a way that it will not be necessary for President Trump to re-impose the various sanctions available to him.

Reporter: Meanwhile there have been media reports that President Putin proposed that Chairman Kim Jong Un visit Russia. What outcomes can be expected if this meeting is realized?

Minister Kono: I do not think it is necessary for the Government of Japan to comment on matters involving third countries.

Reporter: If this meeting is realized, it would constitute directly talking with North Korea in the format of a summit meeting, a format that Japan has not yet realized. From now on, how do you think Japan should interact with North Korea?

Minister Kono: I intend to closely watch what happens at the US-North Korea Summit Meeting.

Reporter: You said that you will visit the United States from tomorrow, and you said that you would now carry out the tasks that are necessary before the summit meeting. Specifically what kind of coordination is necessary immediately before the summit? Also, I think your direct counterpart is Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, but specifically who are you planning to meet?

Minister Kono: I hope to carry out various adjustments, and I will try to meet the appropriate people for carrying out those tasks.

Reporter: President Trump made a statement that he told Japan and the Republic of Korea to be ready to offer economic support. How do you analyze this statement?

Minister Kono: Japan has told the United States that if a comprehensive resolution of the nuclear and missile issues and the abductions issue can be achieved, Japan is ready to normalize diplomatic relations and in that case Japan is prepared to provide economic support to North Korea.

Reporter: Regarding maximum pressure, President Trump said that he did not want to use the words “maximum pressure.” The background is that the Government of Japan has been strongly calling on the international community to implement a policy of pressure on North Korea but will you refrain from communicating the words “maximum pressure” or talking about pressure of any kind externally until the US-North Korea Summit Meeting finishes?

Minister Kono: The international community is united in maintaining economic sanctions based on Security Council resolutions. There is no change in the situation.

Reporter: Regarding external communications, do you essentially mean that you will keep quiet about this for a while?

Minister Kono: The international community is united in implementing economic sanctions based on Security Council resolutions. There is no change in the situation.