Abe pushes North Korea on abductions, but must stay in tune with U.S.

When American journalists - Euna Lee and Laura Ling - were imprisoned in North Korea, the USA did everything in their power to get them released . They were arrested while working in some area there - - - In contrast, Japanese citizens, children, in fact, were abducted from the streets in their homeland over 20 years ago - - - and basically there has been little accomplished . . . .and aide from Amnesty International, negligible international interest.

Abe's going to blow the talks... again. He's taking a tough line to get points at home -- and especially at a time when Japan is incredibly under fire about the sex-slaves -- but in return NK will retreat from talks and once again nothing will get accomplished. Give the delegates sent over a chance before launching the bombast, Abe.

Yes, he must stay in tune as he is a US puppet after all.

There is nothing that Japan does with respect to North Korea that the U.S is not in on from the start, This article is both naïve and misleading.

semperfiJun. 04, 2014 - 08:00AM JST In contrast, Japanese citizens, children, in fact, were abducted from the streets in their homeland over 20 years ago - ->- and basically there has been little accomplished . . . .and aide from Amnesty International, negligible international >interest.

South Korea has over 400 abductees and they have accomplished even less. Apart from getting shot at. "The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has begun investigations on the Korean abductees. Abductee Hitomi Soga has also testified that citizens of Romania and Thailand were among the abductees.[38] The family of an abduction victim from Thailand has been identified and the Japanese government is working with the Thai government to resolve the issue." Doesn't look like negligible international interest to me.

Now, this I agree with Abe. It is absolutely his duty to bring his people home by whatever means he deemed fit. This has nothing to do with US and shouldn't have to consult with any non-Japanese entity. The abducted are Japanese, not Americans.

If it takes a bi-lateral talk with NK, do it. Sent some aides or whatevers, do that. How you deal with the method on getting your people home is completely up to the leader of Japan. The key point is get them home or get concrete proof of life or death.

Anything else is hogwash. It aint' other people's lives that are endangered.

Highball7: doesn't work via threats, bud. Let the people sent do their jobs before the rhetoric, or guaranteed NK will just tell Japan off and blame it n Abe's bombast.

Abe can't disobey his american master...need to get permission first. So sad..I wonder how long Japan will keep taking it...US should at least buy Abe dinner first.