Abe dangles financial aid in return for N Korea concessions

We have a 200% debt to GDP ratio. Abe is considering cutting medical and retirement benefits etc. And yet, he wants to throw money at North Korea.

Flip flopper! What happened to MAXIMUM PRESSURE!?

I doubt NK would ever give Abe what he wants. I don't see a flip or a flop, I see 'lil Kim calling Trump up again looking for another "summit" because he's not getting what he wants.

NK problem has to be resolved based on mutual respects, and mutual trusts, no other ways. Recommend Abe to reduce rhetoric statements and preconditions for talks and deals.

so arrogant - "If we resolve as a whole the questions of abductions of Japanese citizens (and) the missile and nuclear problem, we manage to draw a line under the unhappy past and normalise diplomatic relations, then we can provide it (North Korea) with economic aid," Abe said in translated comments to journalists after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.

Excellent news. Japan and the New North Korea CAN be great economic partners, IF abducted situation is finally resolved. PM Abe has realized this.

Summit between USA and NK was a big success, and there is no reason Japan and new NK can't do the same. Big market in NK, and big potential for Japanese companies to start factories, as well as direct Japanese government investment in projects. Win-win.

Forget wasting more tax funding and interest money on a swamp, instead invest it back on the people of Japan...rather than cutting benefits that so many have earned, use towards that instead...I wonder what percent of the Japanese tax payers out there including foreigners paying taxes in Japan would like to see it vested in their future vs a country that would only spend it in weapons research to further their own agenda and nothing for Japan. If Abe wants to lose an election, well this topic is one that will end his reign.

Must be time for Megumis parents to be rolled out again. As the Shogun says, the people believe why on earth is beyond me. So far his high point internationally has been dressing as Mario and eating a hamburger at an exclusive golf resort. He can dangle all he wants but once again be left dangling.

Abe is a sell out! Why do we need to give money to this terrorist? Threatening us with nukes!??

What short memory you have!

Supposedly NK has billions worth of untapped minerals, hence the carrot and stick approach

what a dork. he thinks brown envelopes can influence a whole nation suffering from oppression for 70 years? they don't need bribes. just lift the sanctions and I'm sure they can provide for themselves.

Kenji Fujimori,

If you have a longer memory, you might recall that givng aid to North Korea was originally what Koizumi planned to do in the early 2000s. If I remember right, certain right-wing nationalists now in positions of power threw a hissy fit at the idea of giving aid to North Korea because of their heinous crimes against Japanese citizens, so the plan was abandoned.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2003/09/06/national/koizumi-hit-over-wishy-washy-north-korea-policy/#.W5hwvOgzaUk