US-Japan Security Chiefs Discuss COVID-19 and North Korea Situation in Phone Call
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Robert O'Brien, U.S. National Security Advisor at the White House, and Shigeru Kitamura, Director of Japan's National Security Secretariat, held a phone call on the afternoon of the 5th (Korean time) to discuss responses to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and the situation in North Korea.
According to NHK and other sources on the 6th, during the phone call the previous day, Advisor O'Brien reportedly requested cooperation from Director Kitamura regarding the use of "Remdesivir," developed by the U.S. pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences as a treatment for Ebola hemorrhagic fever, as a COVID-19 treatment in Japan. The call, requested by the U.S., lasted about 30 minutes.
Gilead Sciences has applied to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the relevant authority, for approval to use Remdesivir as a candidate treatment for COVID-19. In this regard, Prime Minister Abe stated at a press conference on the 4th that the approval process for Remdesivir would be expedited, and Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said in an interview with BS Broadcasting on the evening of the 5th that "approval could be granted as early as the 7th."
Advisor O'Brien and Director Kitamura also exchanged views on the whereabouts of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, who was reported by North Korean media to have attended the completion ceremony of the Suncheon Fertilizer Factory in South Pyongan Province on the 1st amid rumors about his health. NHK reported, "The two exchanged opinions on the North Korean situation, analyzed Kim Jong-un's movements, and reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance."
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Meanwhile, on the same day, Prime Minister Abe held a 30-minute phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. With the U.S.-Iran conflict in mind, Prime Minister Abe told President Rouhani that "regional stability is essential and a restrained response is expected" to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and announced support amounting to 2.5 billion yen (approximately 28.8 billion KRW) including medical technology cooperation and provision of supplies.
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