The government is increasingly concerned that a significant delay in confirmation of the result of the U.S. presidential election could have an impact on security in East Asia.
The government is planning to beef up vigilance, keeping in mind the possibility of such events as North Korean missile launches amid the power vacuum in Washington.
"Regardless of the circumstances of the U.S. presidential election, we will take all possible measures to ensure peace and security," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference Thursday.
"We are working closely with the U.S. government on regional developments related to security, and we are gathering and analyzing information with strong concern," he said.
"North Korea may launch a ballistic missile to attract attention during the transition of political power [in the United States]," a senior Foreign Ministry official said.
People within the government are also wary of China's provocations in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
The delay in the election outcome will likely have an impact on Japan-U.S. negotiations over the budgetary allocation for a cost-sharing agreement for hosting U.S. troops for the next fiscal year onward.
The current agreement will expire at the end of March next year, making it necessary for negotiations on proposals for a new accord to be concluded by the end of this year.
Tokyo is eager to begin negotiations by the end of November, but the situation has become increasingly uncertain. Washington is "unlikely to be ready for negotiations," a senior government official said.
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