EXCLUSIVE: Trump Cautious about Meeting Japanese Abductee Families

Washington, Oct. 24 (Jiji Press)–U.S. President Donald Trump is cautious about meeting with relatives of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea decades ago, during his three-day visit to Japan from Monday, Japanese and U.S. government sources told Jiji Press on Friday. Trump has voiced his hope to hold a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the occasion of his visit to South Korea, which follows his Japan trip. He may be mindful of North Korea, which claims that the abduction issue has been resolved. On Friday, Trump told reporters at the White House that he has informed Kim of his plan to visit South Korea. Trump is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday. Tokyo is asking Trump to meet with relatives of Japanese abductees. However, Trump has suggested that he would not do so, a diplomatic source said, adding that this may be a message to North Korea. When he visited Japan during his first term as U.S. president, Trump met with relatives of abductees and was asked to help resolve the issue. In response, he raised the abduction issue when he met with Kim later. On Thursday, Takaichi met with relatives of abductees for the first time since she took office Tuesday, telling them that she will ask Trump for cooperation and do her best to resolve the problem. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]