Japan PM Asks N. Korea for Summit to Solve Abduction Issue

Tokyo, May 30 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to hold summit talks with her, at a national rally held in Tokyo on Saturday to demand the immediate return home of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago. “I would like to take a courageous step forward with Mr. Kim for the citizens of both countries and their youths of the future,” she said at the rally. “I am prepared to hold talks and take concrete actions to build a relationship that is fruitful for the two nations,” she added. “While I am in office (as prime minister), I am determined to make a breakthrough and resolve the abduction issue without excluding any options,” she stressed. “I hope that both countries will work together for their prosperity and regional peace and stability.” “I dare to say this as I think North Korean people are listening to my message,” she said. “The Japanese government is working in unity to achieve concrete results without missing any single opportunity,” she said. After taking office last October, the prime minister has been repeatedly expressing her willingness to resolve the issue. The leader stated in a similar rally in November that she had already approached North Korea for a bilateral summit. Takaichi has requested cooperation from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has met with Kim three times, and gained the U.S. leader’s full-fledged support at their meeting in Washington in March. Meanwhile, Kim Yo Jong, younger sister of the North Korean leader and head of the general affairs department of the Workers’ Party of Korea, has sounded negative about a Japan-North Korea summit. In a statement released earlier this year, she said that Japan should accept North Korea’s position that the abduction issue has already been resolved if Tokyo hopes to hold a summit with Pyongyang. As there has been speculation that the United States and North Korea may resume dialogue, some in the Japanese government hope that the possible move would help break the stalemate in the abduction issue. However, North Korea, which is deepening cooperation with China and Russia, “will not respond unless Japan makes proposals beneficial to the country,” an informed source said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]