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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
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Mainichi Shimbun reports aid to be used as bargaining chip in future negotiations over abductees
Ahead of the second North Korea-US summit in Hanoi, the Japanese government informed the US that it would not be engaging in humanitarian aid to or economic cooperation with North Korea for the time being, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported on Feb. 26. Tokyo is also reported to have conveyed a similar message to international organizations that are considering humanitarian aid to the North. In a Feb. 26 report, the Mainichi Shimbun said that while the US was considering providing corresponding “compensation” if North Korea adopts concrete denuclearization measures at the summit, the Japanese government communicated to the US that it would not take part in assistance to the North. In working-level discussions with the US, Tokyo voiced the position that economic cooperation and humanitarian would be “premature” without guarantees of North Korea moving toward concrete denuclearization even if an agreement is reached at the North Korea-US summit. “With the abduction issue there as well, it is not possible for Japan to provide support [to North Korea]. The US understands Japan’s position,” a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said. Japan also informed the World Food Programme (WFP) and others that it would not permit the use of its contributions to assist North Korea. The international agencies in question are reporting considering providing food and medical support to the North. In connection with this, the newspaper quoted Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono as expressing to others that North Korea “is not a failed state” and was “not distributing food and medical products to its people.” Japan’s policy of not providing humanitarian assistance to the North regardless of the North Korea-US summit’s outcome was described by the newspaper as stemming from plans to use assistance and economic cooperation as bargaining chips in future talks with Pyongyang on the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea. By Cho Ki-weon, Tokyo correspondent Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
