Prime Minister and LDP President Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from US Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral John M. Richardson, who was visiting Japan. Mr. Abe has long placed importance on Japan-US ties and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening coordination to enhance the Japan-US Alliance based on the newly formulated defense policy and to achieve a free and open international order of the seas. The two also exchanged opinions on various topics, including Japan-US defense and security cooperation as well as the North Korea situation, and agreed to closely cooperate to resolve these challenges.

<January 17 (Thursday) Prime Minister's Office>