Photo/Illutration U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, left, who is special envoy for North Korea, and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba exchange greetings, practicing social distancing ahead of their meeting on July 9 in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. (Pool)

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun arrived in Japan on July 9 on a two-day visit, becoming the first dignitary from a country on Japan’s COVID-19 entry ban list to be admitted.

Biegun, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea, came to Japan to discuss tensions with North Korea and China's relations with Hong Kong at meetings in Tokyo with Japanese government officials.

Japan is taking extra precautions against infections during Biegun's meetings with high-ranking Japanese government officials, aiming to use the experience as a model for receiving other foreign dignitaries or sending senior officials overseas in the future.

“We want to fully resume face-to-face exchanges in diplomatic settings by using the experience we have with Biegun's visit,” a senior Foreign Ministry official said.

Biegun visited South Korea for two days from July 7. He arrived at U.S. Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo in the late afternoon on July 9 and underwent a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

After confirming that he tested negative for the novel coronavirus, Biegun left the base in a car prepared by staff of the U.S. Embassy in Japan.

Biegun also took a PCR test upon departing from the United States and entering South Korea and tested negative both times, U.S. government sources said.

On the evening of July 9, Biegun attended a dinner meeting with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba at the Iikura state guesthouse in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. The two there exchanged elbow bumps instead of handshakes when Akiba greeted Biegun in front of reporters.

They also maintained social distancing from each other when they posed for media photos.

Staff who arranged the meeting took extra precautions to prevent attendees of the meeting from contracting the virus.

To reduce direct contact between attendees and waiters, dishes were placed on tables beforehand instead of being served as course meals. Officials used microphones during the meeting so they could maintain social distance to prevent droplet infections. 

Biegun met with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Taro Kono separately on July 10. The meetings took place at the Iikura state guesthouse so Biegun doesn't have to travel elsewhere.

“Biegun will travel on foot in a very limited area,” the senior Foreign Ministry official said before the meetings.

The Japanese government has banned entry to foreign nationals from the United States to prevent a further spread of the novel coronavirus.

But the government allowed Biegun to enter under the same conditions it is considering using for travelers coming from Vietnam and a few other countries that have reported a slowdown in their infection rates. 

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