Families of Japanese abducted by North Korea pin hopes on Trump

"The sad thing is I think the North Koreans are playing a waiting game - waiting for people like the Yokotas to pass away, that the next generation won't be as exercised and the issue will just go away," Boynton said.

In truth it's not just the NK's who seem to be playing the "numbers" game in counting the years until people pass away and issues are forgotten or lose importance.

No use pinning your hooes on Trump, folks! He is only interested in saving his own skin!

It contradicts putting pressures on North Korea and the demand of return of the abductees.

"This is a performance, making political use of them"

At least one person gets it...

I feel bad for this family being given false hope. Trump talked once about the issue to give an emotional touch to his speech ("a sweeeeet 13 years old girl", remember ?), and didn't seem concerned since then.

"I'd like (Abe) to put his reputation and his government on the line and lead this issue to a resolution" 

As I said. False hope.

I do not think I am being cynical if I suggest that they have no hope of help from Trump, who wants to obliterate the country, or that Abe is dragging out the Yokotas to gain support for his personal political agenda. I could quite easily believe that an LDP scriptwriter coaches the Yokotas in what to say to the press.

Trump is more likely to incinerate them rather than save them.

NK says they are all dead, so there is nothing preventing a complete wiping out of the country's leadership and armed forces. They were kidnapped to be used as hostages, and you can be sure they will pay dearly for this grave crime

They should 't waste their time. They have a better chance pinning their hopes on me. I mean, I'll try, but no promises. Trump will do nothing because there's nothing in it for him.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made the abductions a keystone of his political career and said he won't rest until all 13 of those Pyongyang admits to kidnapping have returned and divulges information about the others Japan suspects were taken. 

But what has tangible steps has he actually taken apart from talk a lot and regularly meet the families?

Koizumi went to Pyongyang for a summit meeting in 2002 and made some progress, this is an interesting article on it from 15 years back, but nothing seems to have happened since then.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/sep/18/japan.northkorea

It's all been talk and hot air from Abe. He's now relying on his new master but the problem is his new master is a man-child.

I have deep sympathy for these families but I have to say, if they're pinning their hopes on Trump, they're betting on the wrong horse.

I have deep sympathy for these families but I have to say, if they're pinning their hopes on Trump, they're betting on the wrong horse.

Who's the right horse?

Bass4funk: the horse in this issue bolted from the barn when Japan reneged on their promises to NK after Koizumi’s progress in 2002 (or thereabouts). There is not right horse. But Trump and Abe are the absolute worst horses you could bet on. They’re donkeys in the metaphor, in fact.

Families of Japanese abducted by North Korea pin hopes on Trump

dont hold your breath.

Families of Japanese abducted by North Korea pin hopes on Trump

How? By starting a war with NK?

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made the abductions a keystone of his political career

Correction: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has used the abductions to further his political career....

Keep going.

and said he won't rest until all 13 of those Pyongyang admits to kidnapping have returned and divulges information about the others Japan suspects were taken.

he won't rest? what does that mean? does it mean that he will contact the NKs and meet with their leader to discuss the issue? No? Ok, does it mean that he will conduct back door diplomacy to try and negociate the release of the other abductees? No? Ohhh, I get it. He won't rest means he won't GIVE IT A REST until he's milked the issue for all the political gain its worth and then just say it was regrettable. Sokka.

Megumi Yokota has become the poster child for the cause.

Yep. That's really all she is at this point.

Is this story FAKE news? According to sources, "Though many (NKs) have become citizens of Japan or South Korea, the students' families remain loyal to their heritage, choosing to send their children to one of some 60 private schools that favor North Korea, teaching the culture and history." The protest was in Tokyo, however, has not been covered by the media.

Abe can demonstrate leadership by stopping all financial transfers to NK from Japan. No money from Japanese or NKs living in Japan to NK. No shipments of goods to devastated mothers and children in NK. As long as NK supporters living in Japan do not put pressure on NK, Abe can do nothing. He is elected, not anointed. Step up, public, and take responsibility for the votes.

This story of DPRK abduction has been politicized beyond proportion to this conflict which has been in armatese for decades. Let's, for a moment, consider the full scope of a nuclear weapon capable DPRK. The entire metro of Seoul could potentially be destroyed. Missiles have already been flown from the DPRK on a trajectory over Japan. This demonstrates the threat to all the major cities of Japan when the DPRK achieves its objectives. Then let's consider the destruction of World War Two which left an imprint upon the Korean Peninsula within the lifetime of its citizenry--albeit they are few today. On the macro scale, we have the centuries old rivalry between the Asian continent and Japan (to include the Ryukyu Kingdom).

So tell me again how this handful of abtuctees is a strategic consideration beyond politics?

His secret service would never allow bitter Japanese to stick pins in his body. You can't pin hope on the leader of the world.

i have nothing but sympathy for the yokotas and the other families who had people kidnapped by NK, but they are a willing pawn in the j-gov'ts quest to ostracize and demonize NK. they are paraded around every time abe and his cronies feel they need a boost of support. neither abe, trump or even allah himself can entice or induce NK to revisit the past regarding these kidnappings. cry and keep up hope in private, but for the love of buddha stop letting yourselves be used by abe.

dcog9065Today  09:08 am JST

NK says they are all dead, so there is nothing preventing a complete wiping out of the country's leadership and armed forces.

You appear to be quite keen on that prospect, so does that mean you are also okay with Abe giving up on the abductees in spite of everything he's said about getting them back home? You do appear to be saying that if the abductees are indeed still alive this would prevent the military action you're so excited about from going ahead.

So it's best just to accept the NK explanation that they're all dead, right?

The problem here the inability to compromise. In politics, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.

The right wing ultra racist section of the ldp will not accept compromise. Next best thing? Ramp up the fear factor, scare the masses, appear like you're actually doing something and pander to america at every possible turn.

This matter should have been put to rest ages ago. However this is what happens when there's no credible opposition to decades long governance. There will be NO change whatsoever.

So marvel as the political circus continues at the expense of the families still holding out hope. What a sad state of events.

At least Abe stuck his neck out over 20 years ago to get the issue address and also expect President Trump to try and do something -- he has nothing to lose.

Vernon - it was Koizumi not Abe who stuck his neck out by going to Pyongyang in 2002 and got things done. As far as I can see, Abe has done nothing of consequence apart from contribute to the deterioration in relations between Japan and N Korea. Read the article I linked to in my previous post - the difference in the relationship between the two countries now and then is startling.

I had a dream.

Abe has been milking the NK issues for his personal agenda, and making NK a worst enemy of Japan without achieving anything positive for the abductees families. Koizumi had done what was right against the tide; contact, connect, negotiate, and some settlement and released of abductees.

cucashopboyNov. 2  08:31 pm JST

As far as I can see, Abe has done nothing of consequence apart from contribute to the deterioration in relations between Japan and N Korea.

He has also expertly exploited the situation to keep winning general elections. One of these days though, people are going to start to look back on all these years of Abe telling us, in a stern voice with a stern muppet face, how determined he is to get the abductees home, and realise just how little progress he's made - in other words, none whatsoever.

they would have better luck pinning their hopes on a donkey rather than a donald.