Abe says N Korean leader capable of settling abduction issue

That visit upset South Korea and the United States, both of which feared Tokyo might do a deal on abductees without addressing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

Who writes this stuff? I know SK is upset because of their utter failure in Kaesong as well as anything Japan does but U.S.??

Abe has to be saying one thing and thinking another. Personally speaking here I can not imagine that Kim has the power to do anything right now other than what his cadre of Generals behind him tell him to do.

Who writes this stuff? I know SK is upset because of their utter failure in Kaesong as well as anything Japan does but U.S.??

Yes the US, because typically Japan, along with the other countries that typically negotiate with NK on a host of issues, didnt consult with the group before sending their minister.

And the stupid remarks by Japanese nationalist government makes it all even worse for the US effort to get some kind of meaningful alliance going in the Pacific to counter the Chinese and NK.

Japan and the US have been making huge inroads over the last few years improving ties with every other country in Asia in order to counter Chinese influence. Especially Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, and now India.

The world doesn't revolve around South Korea. Just because they are forever pissed at Japan doesn't mean the rest of Asia isn't willing to improve their relations with Japan.

This is a difficult situation for the U.S., Japan, and South Korea. The one thing we learned from the past experience with NK is that appeasement does not work. NK will take your money or aid and then spend it on improving their missles and other capability. And less than a decade from now you will be in an even worse situation. You need to bring more influence from China into the equation. The biggest danger is if NK launch a cross border nuclear or conventional attack against the South and there may not be time to bring it down.

And Abe has the power to settle the sex slave issue, but denies it exists. Sorry, Abe, can't have your cake and eat it, too.

Upgrayedd May. 30, 2013 - 09:19AM JST Japan and the US have been making huge inroads over the last few years improving ties with every other country in Asia in order to counter Chinese influence. Especially Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, and now India.The world doesn't revolve around South Korea.

East Asia will become increasingly important. In the region, Japan will continue to lag behind China, which is actively developing its East Asia diplomacy. China is bolstering economic ties with ASEAN by the formation of a free trade area. China is aggressive yet shows flexability in strengthening a cooperative relationship with ASEAN countries. East Asian diplomacy will become a real test of strength for the Japanese PM.

Problem is Japan lacks firm diplomatic principles. Current PM Abe needs to eliminate the handicap. To do so, he needs to reaffirm Japan's traditional diplomatic stance as well as his own diplomatic beliefs at major international summits. What counts on the international stage is personal trust. PM Abe needs to make friends with national leaders, with whom he would be able to work during summits. Such friends can only be obtained through steady efforts involving personal exchange and correspondence. PM Abe must be prepared to break through such a standoff with better foresight and strategy.

It is upto Abe to resolve many abduction issues.

Kim Il-natured

Anyone who actually believes that the U.S. is "upset" at Japan for communicating with NK at a time when their rhetoric and actions have burned all channels between NK and the US and SK, is very very naïve.

Thomas AndersonMay. 30, 2013 - 01:49PM JST "Anyone who actually believes that the U.S. is "upset" at Japan for communicating with NK at a time when their rhetoric and actions have burned all channels between NK and the US and SK, is very very naïve.

I thought you were an American, you should know this stuff. The US government doesn't believe in "negotiating" with >the "terrorist" "rogue nations". in ghUS wants everyone to believe that the NK is so evil and irrational that it can't be >rationally negotiated with.

Most Americas know that North Korea has been removed from our list of States sponsoring Terrorism. Didn't they teach you that in the 50 cent classes?

@tmarie: Citizens have been stolen - Families broken up. Would you not expect your home government to look for your Children indefintely if they had been kidnapped? You are viewing this from the outside - not as Japanese.

Thomas AndersonMay. 30, 2013 - 01:49PM JST "Anyone who actually believes that the U.S. is "upset" at Japan for communicating with NK at a time when their rhetoric and actions have burned all channels between NK and the US and SK, is very very naïve. I thought you were an American, you should know this stuff. The US government doesn't believe in "negotiating" with >the "terrorist" "rogue nations". The US wants everyone to believe that the NK is so evil and irrational that it can't be >rationally negotiated with.

If YOU were American, you'd be aware that North Korea was removed from the list of States sponsoring terrorism several years ago.

Wow, you really don't get it, do you. The US government obviously wants to keep North Korea as the big, bad, irrational hypothetical enemy.

It does not prohibit negotiations with "Rogue States".

looooooool, they are called rogue states because they are considered to be (supposedly) irrational, self-destructive and can not be negotiated with. But obviously this is all just propaganda. Why would the US want Japan to break off that illusion? North Korea is no supposed to be able to be negotiated with!

Here are the pictures of nine homeless North Korean children fleeing North Korea, via China and Laos. With help of South Korean aid workers, they were hoping to get to South Korea via the underground railroad.

http://image.chosun.com/sitedata/image/201305/30/2013053003391_0.jpg

They were caught in Laos by the Laotian police, deported back to China, then the Chinese deported them back to North Korea last week. In all probability they will die in a concentration camp due to the fact North Koreans treat attempts to get to South Korea as one of the worst crimes you can commit against the state.

What's interesting about this picture is that one of the boys has a mother who is Japanese, reported by South Korean paper. Shouldn't Japan get involved with North Korea now and help free the boy and find out about his mother? Or will he be dismissed as an undesirable mixed race?

Hope Abe will be able to bring back Japanese who are still there and want to come home. very soon,

yes NK leader is a magician capable of producing results as desired by Abe. World is more 'curious' about what Abe is capable of doing.

First priority for Abe is the case of Hashimoto brain abduction by a misterious force. He needs to rescue it for the future of the country

Japan should seek friendship with north korea. Even kim hyong un is more mature than korean prime minister.

Maube Abe can invite Kim to Japan and show Ginza and Tokyo Tower? Maybe Sushi. Tempura, and Teppanyaku beef in a fancy place or not fancy place to let him enjoy Japan? He knows Europe but he may want to know Japanese people have TV and computers in about every home. Only 29 years old and surrendered by tough generals. He can relax in Japan. Unlike USA, Japanese people are not gin happy. He will be safe in Japan.

So tired of this topic. is it tragic? Yes. is it horrible? yes. However, how much money and time has been invested that could be going to better things that serve the pubic better? Say, daycares, schools, hospitals, Fukushima...? Japan isn't getting help on this because of their history of kidnapping and denying - be it sex slaves or custody kids.

If YOU were American, you'd be aware that North Korea was removed from the list of States sponsoring terrorism several years ago.

North Korea is still considered a "rogue state". And no, I'm not an American.

What's interesting about this picture is that one of the boys has a mother who is Japanese, reported by South Korean paper. Shouldn't Japan get involved with North Korea now and help free the boy and find out about his mother? Or will he be dismissed as an undesirable mixed race?

Better question is, why did the South Korean Embassy in Laos not able to secure these people despite the plea from the pastor druing which time they were held at the detention center for 18 days? The SK Embassy officials could not even meet with the detainees for god sakes. Because of SK failure, they cannot confirm the background of these people so none of governments, including the SK, cannot confirm that one of them is actually a son of the Japanese abductees. This is yet a again, a diplomatic shortcoming of SK in regards to abductees and/or NK refugees in other countries.

Who writes this stuff? I know SK is upset because of their utter failure in Kaesong as well as anything Japan does but U.S.??

Uh nigelboy, I'm pretty sure the US doesn't want Japan negotiating with North Korea.

South Korea has done nothing to help north korea but a factory that payed cents and almost enslaved workers.

nigelboy, no argument from me, about that.

The half Japanese "boy" is actually 23 years old, confirmed by another NK defector (a friend of the young man who met last year, while hiding out in China) who defected to South Korea last year. Out of the nine who got deported to NK, this defector knew eight of them, including the half Japanese boy, who's mother lives in North Korea.

http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/05/31/2013053100264.html?news_Head1

Going by the age of the half Japanese, his mother could be in her late fourty's or early fifty's. I would guess that would put her squarely in the time bracket when North Korea was very active abducting foreign nationals. But oh well... I guess it won't matter since North Korea usually punishes very severely any family that has members of its family committing treason.

Discord is brewing in the US/SK/JP Alliance. It has been for awhile now that the Abe's Government has been moving itself away from the sphere of the US strategy in Asia. Publicly the Alliance seems to be in-tacked but behind the scene US is seething with frustration at Japan's decisions taken against it's suggestion. This could either means Japan is taking its destiny by its hand and meets its mandate that Abe has intended to for Japan irrespective of US irritation. The consequence of such action would weaken the US strategy of "Rebalance" in Asia. One has to asked whether the NK move will convert to satisfactory result or that which will further weaken the Alliance.

Anyone who actually believes that the U.S. is "upset" at Japan for communicating with NK at a time when their rhetoric and actions have burned all channels between NK and the US and SK, is very very naïve.

I thought you were an American, you should know this stuff. The US government doesn't believe in "negotiating" with the "terrorist" "rogue nations". The US wants everyone to believe that the NK is so evil and irrational that it can't be rationally negotiated with.

Japan is now a liability in the alliance to contain North Korea. They're squawking about a dozen or so Japanese, but keeps throwing insults at WWII survivors of Japanese imperialism (whether they be Koreans, Chinese, now even Americans).

I don't think SK is terribly upset at the thought of Japan foolishly throwing away their money on North Korea. But I'm sure the Americans who are trying to coordinate a meaningful policy cooperation between Japan-SK-US, are just throwing their hands up in the air with frustration with Japan. And the stupid remarks by Japanese nationalist government makes it all even worse for the US effort to get some kind of meaningful alliance going in the Pacific to counter the Chinese and NK.