 |
|
British Prime Minister Theresa May (right) and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) hold a joint press conference at 10 Downing Street in central London on Jan. 10, following talks. Abe visited Britain and was set to hold talks with Britain‘‘s Prime Minister Theresa May following May‘s visit to Tokyo and Kyoto last year.(AFP)
|
Says Japanese embassy in Beijing is negotiating details with Pyongyang
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has once again expressed his willingness to hold a North Korea-Japan summit, remarking that “next time, I’ll have to sit down with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un.” During a joint press conference following a summit with UK Prime Minister Theresa May in London on Jan. 10, Abe said that “There have been major changes in North Korean affairs since the North Korea-US summit last year, and North Korea and the US are looking into a second summit” before remarking that next time, it would be his turn. “Nothing has been decided about a North Korea-Japan summit, including the timing, but we are exchanging views with North Korea through several channels, including the Japanese embassy in Beijing. However, I won’t get into the details out of concern that it could affect the negotiations,” Abe added. Until it was announced in Mar. 2018 that North Korea and the US would be holding a summit, Abe had placed complete emphasis on “maximum pressure” on North Korea. But since that summit was held this past June, Abe has frequently mentioned his willingness to hold a summit with the North. One of the prime examples appeared in Abe’s speech before the UN in Sept. 2018: “I will break through the barrier of mutual distrust with North Korea and make a new attempt to resolve the issue of the abductees [Japanese kidnapped by North Korea]. I am ready to personally sit down with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un.” In Nov. 2018, Japanese newspapers reported that Shigeru Kitamura, who as the head of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office is in charge of Japan’s intelligence assets, had made contact with senior North Korean officials in Mongolia, but it’s unclear whether the two countries’ meeting resulted in any progress. During the joint press conference, Abe also emphasized sanctions against North Korea, remarking that Japan and the UK “once again affirmed the need to achieve the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all [North Korea’s] weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of various ranges and to completely implement the UN Security Council’s resolutions.” By Cho Ki-weon, Tokyo correspondent Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
