Japan Cabinet Secretariat on North Korea's Military Threats to South Korea: "Thorough Trend Analysis and Ensuring Public Safety"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, stated on the 15th that he will make every effort to ensure the safety of the public by analyzing trends and information regarding North Korea's military threats against South Korea.

According to NHK, Secretary Suga said at a regular briefing that day, "We are making efforts to collect and analyze information and are analyzing North Korea's intentions and the impact on our country (Japan)." Regarding the issue of North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens, he emphasized, "It is important for our country to take the initiative while closely cooperating with related countries including the United States," and added, "Prime Minister Shinzo Abe himself has repeatedly expressed his determination to meet directly with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un without any conditions."

Secretary Suga continued, "As the families of the abductees are aging, we are doing our best to resolve the issue as quickly as possible by utilizing various channels." This statement is interpreted in light of the death of Shigeru Yokota, the father of Megumi Yokota, a symbolic figure of the victims of North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens, who passed away from illness on the 5th.

On the 20th anniversary of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, North Korean state media continued their recent pressure offensive without mentioning the declaration, stating that "the icy retaliation actions will continue." The Rodong Sinmun repeated the threat made by Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, on the 13th regarding the demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, saying, "As already declared, the useless North-South Joint Liaison Office will collapse without a trace, and the authority to carry out the next hostile actions will be entrusted to our military."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.