TOKYO, Sept 21 (NNN-NHK) – Japan’s new Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, spoke with U.S. President, Donald Trump, via the phone last night, which was their first conversation since Suga took office last week.
In the talks that lasted about 20 minutes, the two leaders affirmed the importance of Japan-U.S. alliance and discussed the situation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), as well as, COVID-19 response, according to local media.
Suga, the new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was chosen as Japan’s new prime minister, to succeed Shinzo Abe, in an extraordinary parliamentary session last Wednesday.
The election was triggered by Abe’s abrupt announcement late last month that, he was stepping down due to a recurrent health issue.
Local observers said, among the diplomatic challenges Suga inherited from his predecessor is Trump’s claim that Japan is not contributing enough to the Japan-U.S. alliance.
According to the prime minister’s office, Suga’s national security adviser, Shigeru Kitamura, will visit Washington next week, to meet with his counterpart, Robert O’Brien.
Before the talks with Trump, Suga also held a phone call with Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, earlier in the day.– NNN-NHK
