[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] On the 16th, the Japanese government expressed its position on North Korea's demolition of the inter-Korean joint liaison office in Kaesong, stating that it will "closely cooperate with South Korea and the United States."
Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary and spokesperson for the Japanese government, said at a regular press conference in the afternoon, in response to related questions, "Japan continues to closely cooperate with South Korea, the United States, and others while collecting and analyzing necessary information," adding, "We are monitoring the situation closely and are fully committed to vigilance and surveillance."
Regarding the situation as understood by the Japanese government, Secretary Suga drew a line by saying, "We are receiving various information, including announcements from the South Korean government, but we refrain from commenting on each detail."
Japanese media also showed high interest by reporting the demolition of the liaison office by North Korea as breaking news.
NHK mentioned, "North Korea strongly opposed the leaflets sent by defector groups and had announced the removal of the liaison office on the 13th."
Kyodo News also urgently reported the demolition of the liaison office, stating, "North Korea is strongly opposing the distribution of leaflets to the North by defector groups."
Meanwhile, South Korea's Ministry of Unification announced, "North Korea demolished the inter-Korean joint liaison office building in Kaesong at 2:49 p.m. today." As a result, the liaison office, which opened in Kaesong in September of that year according to the Panmunjom Declaration agreed upon by the South and North Korean leaders on April 27, 2018, has disappeared after 19 months of operation.
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