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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
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Japanese prime minister holds phone calls with Trump regarding N. Korea issues
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe once again stressed his willingness to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un without any preconditions. Abe made the remarks to reporters on the evening of May 6, after speaking on the phone with US President Donald Trump in regard to the projectiles recently launched by North Korea. “The abduction issue [of Japanese by North Korea] is an important issue for Japan in its relations with North Korea. I don’t intend to miss a chance to resolve the abduction issue. I need to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally. I think we need to meet without any preconditions. That’s how determined I am to take action to resolve this problem.” “I want to meet with Chairman Kim without any preconditions. I’d like to meet Kim Jong-un for an honest and candid conversation,” Abe said in an interview that ran in the Sankei Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, on May 2. In previous remarks to the Japanese Diet, Abe has said that a summit would be predicated on finding a solution to the abductee issue. “If Japan and North Korea are to have a summit, that summit must help resolve the abductee issue,” he said. Abe’s recent remarks that he won’t put any preconditions on the talks indicate that his attitude is changing. “I’ve exchanged opinions [with President Trump] about recent developments in North Korea, including this issue. We’ve carefully adjusted our analysis of those developments and our plans for the future. US and Japanese experts will be collaborating to analyze the projectiles launched by North Korea,” Abe said. “During their summit last year, President Trump and Chairman Kim agreed on the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. [President Trump and I] agreed that the US and Japan will continue to work together in complete harmony to quickly bring about the realization of the North Korea-US agreement.” “Perspectives on the Korean Peninsula have been shared in summits with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In the future, we’ll continue to play a proactive role in the peace and stability of the region, including the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and affairs in North Korea, in partnership with the international community.” Abe, who had been vacationing at a cabin in Yamanashi Prefecture, returned to Tokyo on Monday evening for a telephone call with Trump. The phone call, arranged at Japan’s request, was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was moved forward to Monday. Trump posted the following tweet after his phone call with Abe: “Just spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan concerning North Korea and Trade. Very good conversation!” By Cho Ki-weon, Tokyo correspondent Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
