Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary, left Japan to US on an official agenda (Image via: The Straits Times)

Suga Meets Uncle Sam, Post-North Korea’s Projectile

After North Korea fired its projectile, Japan and US’s talks intensify. Yoshihide Suga, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, met Patrick Shanahan, the US acting Defense Secretary, at the Pentagon (10/5). The visitation was immediately scheduled, following North Korea’s projectile firing.

The Japanese alleged that the projectile fired by the North Korean on Saturday contained ballistic missile, Saturday (4/5). Hours after the firing, the Japanese government decided that it was necessary for Suga to bring the issue to the Uncle Sam.

The abduction issue takes priority over the projectile issue. It is, in fact, the main part of Suga’s 4-day trip to US. Relaying Shinzo Abe’s message, Japan would like to ask USA for assistance, regarding the abduction issue perpetrated by North Korea toward Japanese nationals since 1970 and 1980, since the Prime Minister agreed to meet the President of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, without any precondition to settle the issue. 

The Japanese alleged that the projectile fired by the North Korean on Saturday contained ballistic missiles. Hours after the firing, the Japanese government decided that it was necessary for Suga to bring the issue to the Uncle Sam.

The second agenda is that Japan would like to ask USA to relocate its Marine Corps air base in Okinawa since it is no longer able to contain the vast corps.
For the rest 3-day visit, Suga was expected to relay the cry of the Japanese, regarding the abduction issue, at the UN. Aftermath, he was scheduled to meet with businessmen and financial key persons in New York.

It was the second time for a Chief Cabinet Secretary to leave Japan on official business. The first visit made was 4 years ago to Guam.

Source: http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190510/p2g/00m/0na/023000c