Defense Minister Kono visits Okinawa for the first time after assuming office September 29, 20:15
Defense Minister Kono visited Okinawa for the first time after taking office, and met with Governor Tamaki over the transfer of the U.S. Army Futenma base to Henoko, Nago City, saying, `` It is a relocation for full closure and full return. '' As well as asking, he showed his idea to steadily reduce the burden.
Defense Minister Kono visited Okinawa for the first time after taking office for 29 days from 29th, met with Governor Tamaki at the Okinawa Prefectural Office, and exchanged opinions on the relocation of the US military Futenma base to Henoko, Nago City. .
In this, Governor Tamaki said, “Okinawa citizens' willingness to oppose is unwavering. Immediately suspend the reclamation work and respond to the dialogue with the prefecture,” and expressed his intention to oppose the construction.
In response to this, Minister Kono said, “It is a relocation of the Futenma base for the full closure and relocation. If we can relocate the use of the old site of the Futenma base, we will start considering this plan and start drawing a solid vision of the future. I asked you to understand the relocation.
After that, he said, “I want to do everything as a government that can do anything to reduce the burden,” and showed the idea of steadily reducing the burden.
In addition, Minister Kono said, “We have to think a bit about how hard the security environment in Northeast Asia is to make the people of Okinawa and other citizens understand it properly. "And emphasized the desire to focus on explaining the security environment surrounding Japan.
Soft ground reclamation Defense Minister "Construction can proceed with peace of mind"
After the meeting, Minister Kono told reporters about the reclamation of the soft ground where construction difficulties were pointed out, "I have heard that construction can proceed with peace of mind with a fairly experienced construction method, and confirmed firmly at the study meeting I would like to apply to Okinawa Prefecture as soon as I am ready. "
Prior to the governor's meeting with Mayor Ginowan
Prior to the meeting, Kono visited Ginowan City, where the Futenma base is located, visited the base from the roof of the city hall, met with Mayor Matsukawa, and the mayor closed the base as soon as possible and reduced the burden of noise, etc. However, he responded that he wanted to respond firmly.