Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday stressed that Japan will pay close attention to whether North Korea's latest decision will eventually lead to Pyongyang completely abandoning its nuclear and missile programs.
Speaking to reporters in Tokyo about North Korea's announcement that it will suspend its nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, Abe said, "I'd like to welcome it as a positive move."
"However, the important thing is whether this move will lead to the complete, verifiable and irreversible abandonment of its nuclear [and other] weapons of mass destruction and missiles. I will keep a close watch on this," Abe emphasized.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters in Washington on Friday afternoon that North Korea's announcement "is not satisfactory."
"North Korea did not mention its abandonment of short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles [which could reach Japan] and denuclearization," Onodera said, expressing his determination to analyze North Korea's intentions.
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