Abe, Japanese Prime Minister, "Hope Inter-Korean Relations Do Not Become More Tense" (Comprehensive)

Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on the 16th regarding North Korea's demolition of the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, "I hope that inter-Korean relations will not become more tense."

According to major Japanese media such as Kyodo News and NHK, Prime Minister Abe stated, "We will closely cooperate with South Korea and the United States, analyze information, and respond accordingly."

Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary and spokesperson for the Japanese government, said at a regular press conference in the afternoon, "Japan continues to closely cooperate with South Korea, the United States, and others, collecting and analyzing necessary information," adding, "We are monitoring the situation while focusing all efforts on vigilance and surveillance."

However, Secretary Suga drew a line regarding the situation as understood by the Japanese government, saying, "We are receiving various information including announcements from the South Korean government, but we refrain from commenting on each detail."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A senior official from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs told NHK, "The demolition itself does not significantly change the strategic situation in Northeast Asia," but added, "We will monitor the situation on the Korean Peninsula to see if North Korea carries out additional military provocations and will closely cooperate with South Korea and the United States."

Meanwhile, South Korea's Ministry of Unification confirmed, "North Korea demolished the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office building at 2:49 p.m. today." As a result, the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, which opened in Kaesong in September of that year following the Panmunjom Declaration agreed upon by the inter-Korean leaders on April 27, 2018, has disappeared after 19 months of operation.

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