Abe urged to ensure Trump-Kim talks help resolve N Korean abductions

People "urging" Abe had better be prepared for the same results as when Abe does the same.

The favour swap for the peace prize recommendation.

I think North Korea declared dead are really dead. Other possible abductees living there have their livelihood established in North Korea with their North Korean partners and they are not necessarily want to return to Japan. There is no guarantee they can have better life in Japan.

I see this very worn out notion is STILL being dragged out. abe is out of his depth here. I only empathize with the families whose grief is constantly used for political pandering.

Sadly for the families Abe has proven himself to be rather weak in dealing with NK, He can only piggyback on US efforts sadly. Still Japan did invade Korea, colonized it and revised it's history about the whole sad episode. Why would the Koreans want to deal with just Japan?

"Hey, I've been made a fool of via scandal or just sticking my foot in my mouth in Japan or abroad!"

"Quick, call up the abductee families!"

Japan clinging to this dead issue is about as petulant as Korea holding onto the comfort women issue. Move on...

Return ALL 17 kidnapees, then Japan-NK relations will be normalized. I am sure Trump will point out the benefits of this. Big American and Japanese investment. NK is a rising Asian “tiger”, it can be a very wealthy and strong nation if co-operate with Trump and PM Abe on this issue.

Japan clinging to this dead issue is about as petulant as Korea holding onto the comfort women issue. Move on...

No, it's an important issue. Back in the 1980s when these people were kidnapped the LDP leadership knew exactly what was happening but did nothing because they were trying to normalise relations with NK at the time. Shin Kanemaru was in Pyongyang bribing Kim Il Sung and the abductees were victims of LDP/Keidanren lust for profit in a newly industrializing NK.

The cynicism of the LDP and its utter contempt for ordinary Japanese is bottomless.

I take your wish seriously and will make efforts to settle the problem," Abe responded, pledging he will "not miss any opportunity."

Yep. Another pledge. Abe pledges about as much as Trump lies.

No, it's an important issue. Back in the 1980s when these people were kidnapped the LDP leadership knew exactly what was happening but did nothing because they were trying to normalise relations with NK at the time. Shin Kanemaru was in Pyongyang bribing Kim Il Sung and the abductees were victims of LDP/Keidanren lust for profit in a newly industrializing NK.

Brilliant Alfie! As usual, your posts are insightful and very informative. Thank you for that.

The cynicism of the LDP and its utter contempt for ordinary Japanese is bottomless.

Couldn't agree more

"Abe told the family members he will soon talk with Trump by phone so that the president could relay to Kim the Japanese government's plan to address the issue that has prevented the normalization of diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Pyongyang."

Is the president of the United State of America an estafette for Japanese PM Abe ? Why can't Abe pick up the phone and call Kim directly ? Who will pay the bill when Abe make a long distance international call ?

Is abduction one of reasons for Trump's Nobel Peace Award in Abe's 5 pages recommendation letter ?

Answer it right now.

Best supporting actor award.

What survivors there are have climatised to their environment bringing them back would be another kidnapping. Undoubtedly resulting is stress. It's just a political thing now, the actual people are not the issue, it's about garnering votes from the soon to be dead voters.

I KNEW we'd be seeing Abe vowing for the 30th time to resolve the issue after it came out he may have nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize with NK. He's screwed himself, and if these poor people buy into his nonsense yet again I feel very sorry for them. Trump is DESPERATE for points at the moment, and one of the only things he believes he's got going for him (which in actuality he does not) is that he "disarmed" NK. He is NOT going to jeopardize that by bringing up the issue of abduction. Not at all. Kim's got him by the short and curlies and if Kim indicates any discussion on that issue will aggravate relations, Trump will drop it even if he were thinking of mentioning it to begin with. He'll throw Abe a little bone of a promise. Abe will yap happily at his heels and sniff around for more scraps, but in the end it'll be back to his chew toys with no rewards.

Whatever Trump decides to do with NK, Abe will support 100%, and that means he cannot live up to his many-times vowed promise of solving this issue. Period. That's what happens when you get a PM with zero spine.

The truth is unpalatable, it's a travesty they were taken and even worse that the LDP use them so overtly I would point to the blue ribbon badges. It should have been resolved decades ago, but sadly no. And sadly never going to be.

History isn't accurate.

Pages have been/will be rewritten.

Some says this, Some says that.

Some believes this, Some that.

It's about Now and Future.

The best approach is for Abe to call Kim. If Abe can talk to Putin, so many times, why can't he talk to Kim ?

The best approach is for Abe to call Kim. If Abe can talk to Putin, so many times, why can't he talk to Kim ?

Because he can't speak North Korean...duh!!

The only way Japan and NK will ever enter any sort of diplomatic relationship is if Japan gives up on the abductee thing. As unfortunate and destructive to the families of those affected as it was, its time to move on...they have.

Deadforgood, Japan lost influence in Northeast Asia, as simple as that. Abductions is just an excuse for Japan to be relevant in the on going process. Japan has no ideas what to do, completely lost.

Our Abe is a double edged sword.. First he's buddy buddy with world leaders and then sometimes mocks them in local media:

https://president.jp/articles/-/27723?display=b

No one cares about Japan's cause here. Not Kim, Not Trump, and Not Moon.

No one will speak on behalf of Abe, Abe will have to speak to Kim directly if he has any concerns.

Junichiro Koizumi went to Noko and spoke to Kim senior in the past. Koizumi was a real leader:

LandOfTheLostToday  12:16 pm JST

In terms of the annexation of Korea in 1910, no, it was not an invasion. It was done in a similar fashion as Perry did to Japan.

Good then we are in agreement and you disagree with this statement as well:

simon gToday  07:50 am JST

Still Japan did invade Korea,

Deadforgood, Japan lost influence in Northeast Asia, as simple as that. Abductions is just an excuse for Japan to be relevant in the on going process. Japan has no ideas what to do, completely lost.

Yea, and islands, and the Olympics, and, and...

Japan has a lot to offer as far as beautiful architecture, wonderful culture, and friendly people. On the international podium however, nobody cares. I'm guessing his conversation with Trump involved:

Abe: abducted Japanese

Trump: Yea, yea, sure (No way am I gonna talk about that, lol, this guy is a loser). You did put my name in for the peace prize, yea?

Abe: 5 pages!

Trump: Abe! I speak to Kim. (Like stealing candy, from a baby)

His meeting with Kim senior:

https://youtu.be/0J9Nnz0V6Wc

There is nothing wrong for Abe to take initiative. I don't understand why he is so slow. Just imagine if Abe did what Moon did from the very beginning, then Japan will be a part of the process with no doubt.

Deadforgood, Japan is a powerful country, but lacks decisive leaders. Japan must take risks and act responsibly and independently.

Yep Akie, I'll agree with you on that xie xie. We need Koizumis son to win the next election because Junichiro kept China in check.

I think North Korea declared dead are really dead. Other possible abductees living there have their livelihood established in North Korea with their North Korean partners and they are not necessarily want to return to Japan. There is no guarantee they can have better life in Japan.

As if you trust everything NK says. Is any of the abductees or their kids who already returned now demanding for returning back to NK? You probably think someone else’s ash sent over was actually the one of Megumi.

Those just poking fun of the issue, or claiming it as dead issue, just abusing it to denounce Abe ,

I advice you bunch of all cold-ugly-brown blooded posters to call the office below to give your disgusting advice directly to the families.

家族会・救う会の拉致被害者救出運動

〒112-0013東京都文京区音羽1-17-11-905　Ｔel.03-3946-5780　Fax.03-3946-5784

http://www.sukuukai.jp/about.html

There is no longer an abduction issue. For Japan to constantly bring up an issue that no longer exists is beyond pointless. Yet it can harass SK over CW issue and hound Russia over its ownership of the Kuril islands.

Learn to let stuff go. Holding on to old issues brings no good. If Japan can do that, then it can lecture SK but not before.

Sad to say, but those people are long since gone. You should have done something years and years ago when the abductions first happened.

Prime minister, pls get the right people to do this job. Definitely the person is not U.

There is no longer an abduction issue. For Japan to constantly bring up an issue that no longer exists is beyond pointless. Yet it can harass SK over CW issue and hound Russia over its ownership of the Kuril islands.

What kind of stupid statement is this? Any CW still being forced to work by Korean owners at somewhere in China? How can the issue end? not only Minoru Tanaka but Tatsunori Kaneda who is not even counted as an officially acknowledged abductee alive there. Families have not even met remains of victims, can not visit where they lived and hear any story how they lived.

Sad to say, but those people are long since gone. You should have done something years and years ago when the abductions first happened.

show us even one idea what exactly Japan could have done. Should have sent Japanese Silmido?

showchinmonoToday 01:21 pm JST

Those just poking fun of the issue, or claiming it as dead issue, just abusing it to denounce Abe ,

Well, it does rather appear that Abe is keeping the issue alive in order to string the abductees' families along for political gain. If he's not actually that cynical, he's certainly ineffective - in all the time he's been making political capital out of the abductees how much closer has he got to bringing them all back home? No one will denounce him when he makes all those promises actually mean something. Up to now they have all been empty.

prime minister abe , when I said right person, I meant a Japanese, not trump and not any white people. O.k. ???.it is time to stand on our own 2 feet. Trump is not Japanese.

robotxpartyToday  02:31 pm JST

Sad to say, but those people are long since gone. You should have done something years and years ago when the abductions first happened.

That argument is no longer is valid.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-northkorea-abductee/japanese-man-abducted-to-north-korea-decades-ago-alive-kyodo-idUSKCN1Q41G8

Simon FostonFeb. 20  05:09 pm JST

Well, it does rather appear that Abe is keeping the issue alive in order to string the abductees' families along for political gain. If he's not actually that cynical, he's certainly ineffective - in all the time he's been making political capital out of the abductees how much closer has he got to bringing them all back home? No one will denounce him when he makes all those promises actually mean something. Up to now they have all been empty.

Who else was effective? Those 3 years run by DPJ, they have done NOTHING.

Has any POTUS before Trump been such effective to stop NK?

I suggest you to refresh your memory by reading this and remember what kind of dictator we all are dealing with. The country which does not hesitate to starve the people for being armed with nukes, The guy who does not hesitate to assassinate his brother, mince anyone against him even including his right-arm man by anti-aircraft gun.

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8C%97%E6%9C%9D%E9%AE%AE%E3%81%AB%E3%82%88%E3%82%8B%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E4%BA%BA%E6%8B%89%E8%87%B4%E5%95%8F%E9%A1%8C#5%E4%BA%BA%E3%81%AE%E5%B8%B0%E5%9B%BD

and this

https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/a_o/na/kp/page1w_000082.html

It's not promise he's been making. It is his vow.

I wished much the entire world support Japan to take military actions to assassinate dictators when they were still weak, before they got armed with nukes to rescue them just like US navy or US marines could quickly rescue every time american citizen got abducted here in Africa or there in Middle east.

So I ask you instead of @robotxparty, what could have been effective way to rescue them and solve this issue?

showchinmonoToday  05:39 am JST

Who else was effective? Those 3 years run by DPJ, they have done NOTHING.

That's a deflection because you probably don't want to acknowledge that Abe's spent his whole career going on about this issue, including 6 years of running a more stable government than the DPJ one, and also done nothing. As other commenters have noted, other LDP administrations also did nothing about the abductees while actively trying to make nice with Kim Il Sung. You probably don't want to acknowledge that either. The DPJ are convenient when you don't want to face up to the LDP's corruption and uselessness, aren't they?

That's a deflection because you probably don't want to acknowledge that Abe's spent his whole career going on about this issue, including 6 years of running a more stable government than the DPJ one, and also done nothing. As other commenters have noted, other LDP administrations also did nothing about the abductees while actively trying to make nice with Kim Il Sung. You probably don't want to acknowledge that either. The DPJ are convenient when you don't want to face up to the LDP's corruption and uselessness, aren't they?

Under LDP, There existed several of both working-level and inter-governmental consultations including Stockholm agreement. Not that they have done nothing but that no tangible results. and you must know why it keep failing.

Under DPJ, they really have done NOTHING, no talk, no consultation, whatsoever, except 2 scandals

1) Ozawa heavily criticized for his remark " Nothing you can do about North Korea to solve the issue, all you can do is to bring and pile up tons of $cash and beg for returns of a few, isn't it?" reported by Sankei.

2) Kan heavily blamed for his contributions worth $700k to a mysterious political party which a suspect who abducted two Japanese citizen to NK belongs to.

It's said that DPJ had absolutely no pipeline nor connection.

Anyway, show us your idea what Japan could have done, will you?

In case you don't read Japanese

https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/na/kp/page1we_000069.html

showchinmonoToday  10:33 am JST

Under LDP, There existed... Under DPJ, they really have...

More deflection. It's a totally false equivalency. The DPJ were in power for just three years and could barely keep a Prime Minister for more than twelve months, the LDP have held power in Japan on and off for about sixty years with Abe as Prime Minister for about seven of those. Yet in spite of whatever consultation and negotiation went on the end result is the same - nothing accomplished. It's ironic - pro-LDP types like to go on about how all the opposition do is criticise, but when no one's buying your defence of the LDP you're very quick to resort to criticising the opposition.

1) Ozawa heavily criticized for his remark...

Who by? LDP hacks or their media stooges?

" Nothing you can do about North Korea to solve the issue, all you can do is to bring and pile up tons of $cash and beg for returns of a few, isn't it?" *

I really don't care for Ozawa at all but that sounds like a fairly accurate assessment of the LDP's approach, actually. Having spent so long in the LDP he would of course know all about how they operate.

reported by Sankei.

Sankei. Well! We're guaranteed absolutely objective reporting without any pro-LDP bias from Sankei, aren't we. You might as well have said it was reported by the LDP press office.

Anyway, show us your idea what Japan could have done, will you?

Because you would prefer not to think about why Japan's elected representatives couldn't do the job they get paid huge salaries to do?

"The shortest way to settle the issue is a direct meeting between the prime minister and Mr. Kim," Sakie Yokota, the 83-year-old mother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted at age 13 in 1977, said at the meeting with Abe.

So,what is stopping Shinzo Abe from doing so?