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Japan determined to settle abduction issue by talks with Kim

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This is kind of obvious.

A fair question to ask is what does everyone think Abe should do? Of course if Japan wants some resolution they should discuss this directly with North Korea.

The abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea was criminal and inexcusable, however at this point in time, considering the big picture...... I hate to say .... it is not so relevant to the desired outcome.

I have doubts that Trump said anything to Kim about this issue during the discussions.

On the other hand if I was a family member of someone kidnapped I would certainly think it is very relevant.

20 ( +20 / -0 )

Determined? What the hell was the Japanese government doing about it in the last 20 odd years? Just a month ago Shinzo said no dialogue, now his seeking dialogue. The mans suit is worth more then the man. Probably his tie has more credence.

18 ( +21 / -3 )

Trump "told me that he accurately conveyed my thoughts about the issue to Mr Kim," Abe said, but declined to elaborate.

Translation: "Son, you're on your own."

16 ( +23 / -7 )

"I must remain relevant, I must remain relevant."

15 ( +25 / -10 )

What happens when North Korea tells them there's no abductee left ?

This will never be resolved because the japanese government and the families will choose not to believe what NK says anyway.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

@Michael Jackson

Takes the pressure off at home......

@Ganbare

You're kidding, right?

12 ( +18 / -6 )

What an utter windbag.

He no more cares for the abductees than his granddaddy did for the plebs after the war.

Political grandstanding at best utter deception at worst.

This man has no morals whatsoever.

11 ( +17 / -6 )

What an odious individual he is. Only shouting now because he has played no part in this process and feels left out. Must sting his ego knowing that "if" peace comes to the region then he will just be a mere bit player.

Shameful the way these families are moved around like chess pieces in a very obvious political game.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Tokyo-Engr - good question. My answer is that he should stop grandstanding on the issue while doing nothing about it, such as wheeling out the families of the abductees when there's an election or he's under pressure from a scandal - basically he's abducted the abduction issue. Instead, he should get on the phone to Kim, arrange a meeting and talk things over.

Japan and North Korea can potentially be of great economic benefit to each other, and some rational talks on increasing cooperation between the countries while resolving the issue would be far more constructive than the shrill bile we've been getting from Abe et al.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Finally he knows the meaning: Do-it-yourself.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

We have not changed our determination to settle (the abduction issue) by directly negotiating with North Korea.

Complete lie, Abe has flown to the US 7 times (including two weeks ago) to talk to Trump about getting him to do it. The government just straight up lies!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

My post may sound cold but that is the truth.

J politicians should be bold to their constituents and say the obvious. The abductees arent coming home(alive). TIME TO MOVE ON.

Our tax yen shouldn't be going to Trump and co simplying for the hope of raising this issue in a meeting. The whole country ia being held hostage now.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Trump "told me that he accurately conveyed my thoughts about the issue to Mr Kim," Abe said, but declined to elaborate.

Translation: "Son, you're on your own."

exactly. Abe still trying to save face..

5 ( +12 / -7 )

@Bintaro... exactly! You nailed it!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Abe has spent the past five years saying this was his top priority, whilst doing absolutely nothing. Now Abe claims to be "determined" to do something. Don't hold your breath is all.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

About time Abe and company realized this is something he has to do on his own.

Let him talk directly to Kim and deal with all issues between the two countries.

I welcome a day that North Korea can become part of the rest of the peaceful world.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

What does it take for Japanese politicians to do ...something?

So much pledging, urging and

JS!

4 ( +7 / -3 )

And so it should be, this is a nk/Japan issue after all. Why always rely on others to clean up the mess?

Simple answer...Japan CAN'T clean up this mess, the politicians here are hypocrites when it comes to issues that stand in the way.

Abe's only way to have any relevance in this discussion is to keep spouting the same rhetoric, non of which he can back up on his own.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Trump "told me that he accurately conveyed my thoughts about the issue to Mr Kim," Abe said, but declined to elaborate.

What's there to elaborate when everyone in the world knows that Trump "talked" about it already, and if there was something to actually report, there is no way Trump would have let Abe get any praise.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

So....the economy is back into negative territory and seeing as the ldp still seeks to remain relevant, this worn out one trick pony is dragged from the annals of history huh? What exactly will it take for this regime to be resigned to the dustheap of history?

3 ( +9 / -6 )

@Ricky

Kono seems to have some sense. He actually seems worldly, personable and reasonable. Future PM?

Agree 100%

A safer bet than dabbling in crypto I'd say.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Trump is tweeting that the cost of NK's denuclearization will be borne by South Korea and Japan. While SK may have motives to be generous, NK will need to "resolve" this issue with Japan to get them to open their wallet. South Korea themselves have over 400 citizens listed as abducted by NK. This really is not an issue as North Korea themselves have already stated that they want to normalize relations with Japan and are prepared to discuss the abduction issue. Clearly Japan's position on the "abductions" issue is a far bigger issue with the resident forum J-haters than North Korea itself. Sorry if he truth hurts.

2 ( +21 / -19 )

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday made the startling claim that rewarding North Korea for denuclearization will cost America nothing. "I think South Korea will do it. I think China -- I think, frankly, China will help out. I think that Japan will help out. No, I don't think the United States is going to have to spend."

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/06/04/2018060401675.html

OK so maybe it wasn't a tweet. Doesn't change my point.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

Obviously the USA doesn't want to get involved in the rachi mondai--all they want to do is remove the "threat" posed by North Korea to justify the removal of all US Forces from Asia and stop wasting their money "protecting" Japan and South Korea. It is going to cost Japan a lot of money secure the return of any of the abductees.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

With four distinct narrators, (trump, kim, translator 1, translator 2) there's no way to know what actually happened

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Mr. Abe don't speak with your mouth to your reputation, speak from your heart the abductee families. That's the comprehensive statement to be done, since the very beginning.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"North Korea has rich (natural) resources and a diligent workforce. It will have a bright future if it treads the right path," Abe said at a press conference earlier in the day.

Gold. A diligent workforce. Slaves in other words. Maybe they have more in common than they think ay?

But Foreign Minister Taro Kono said the abduction issue is something that Japan and North Korea will eventually have to deal with by themselves.

Kono seems to have some sense. He actually seems worldly, personable and reasonable. Future PM?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@OssanAmerica...you are absolutely correct! Thank you for the link to support your earlier comment. People who doubted your post ‘jumped the gun’ ... lol

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Well Japan, simply take a number and wait in line. Every country in the region has issues they each feel are equally important to them.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I think Abe has been playing his limited hand fairly well. Japan is a peripheral player in this so he is using his influence with the US to ensure the abductees issue is kept in play. If something comes of this whole thing Japan will be in a position to throw their aid, business and investment into the till in exchange for a resolution of the abductees issue. Abe is not directly involved at this point but he is actively working those limited avenues of influence he has available to him.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

""I'm determined that Japan will have to directly face North Korea and resolve (the abduction issue) bilaterally,"

Hahaha... I love how he is suddenly determined to do this when Trump did diddly squat and Japan has been left out to dry, and then how they are saying "We remain determined to settle this bilaterally" after just spending MONTHS asking SK and the US to bring up the issue at summits they could not attend because they keep bringing the issue up when it's not relevant.

Abe is once again milking this issue for popularity points at a time when his is sinking like a stone through scandal. That's why he's once again making vows about improving women's rights and not tolerating harrassment despite Japan's level dropping, and him tolerating it in his own cabinet just fine.

0 ( +10 / -10 )

"I'm determined that Japan will have to directly face North Korea and resolve (the abduction issue) bilaterally," 

And so it should be, this is a nk/Japan issue after all. Why always rely on others to clean up the mess?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I wish Abe luck. Don’t know where it’ll come from, though. First he’s ready to fight now he says let’s talk. Question, why would any kidnappee come back and settle? It a different country from the one they were kidnapped from. No friends. A few remaining friends and family who deep inside wouldn’t recognize them much. Let them return, enjoy a visit, then see if they’d want to stay..a long deserved visit. See if this is where they want to spend the rest of their days. As broken as NK may be, they still have their friends there..commarades in arms in a real sense.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Trump is tweeting that the cost of NK's denuclearization will be borne by South Korea and Japan. 

Think Trump did mention this in the press conference. So Abe unilaterally agreed to this or was forced by Trump, given the rich rare metals natural resources in NK, many countries would be willing to bear this cost.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Since DT has asked KJU to destroy its nukes, has KJU asked DT if they are destroying theres?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

,determined to settle the Korean issue,

would be worth an aim for a G7 country.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

OssanAmerica

Trump is tweeting that the cost of NK's denuclearization will be borne by South Korea and Japan. 

There's no such tweets, I just looked?

Busted Ossan.

-1 ( +15 / -16 )

Hopefully this is being taken out of context as the abduction issue is not Japans pressing issue with NK.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Yeah, I bet Trump elaborated! Maybe it's because he said sweet FA, but of course, Abe has to keep up the pretenses.

I think Abe must be fuming because Trump and Kim got on so well. Botchan, if you'd actually tried to meet up with someone from the Kim family, you too could have had avocado, prawn cocktail and fried rice. And dessert!

There's no such tweets, I just looked? Busted Ossan.

Yeah, where are the tweets, Ossan? Are these your alternative facts?

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

Dude, nobody gives a hoot about the 13 abductees.

Hundreds of thousands of Koreans went 'missing' a couple generations ago because of your poor little country.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

Kim-san is not stupid. He realizes he must finalize the Japanese kidnapees issue for Peace Plan to fully be enacted, and to cement his status as Peacemaker. This could be releasing them frim imprisonment or returning the remains if they died due to natural cause.

I am very confident he will.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

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