Kishida says he is willing to meet Kim Jong Un over abductions

If I ever had a private meeting with Kim, I would ask him: "When you finally go to bed at night and you're just lying there by yourself, do you ever think about the people you've had executed for watching a banned television program or reading a Bible, and the small children you've placed into gulags for life for the crime of being related to someone who read a Bible or watched a television program? And if you do think about it, when there's nobody around to look tough in front of, do you ever cry about it, alone in your bed?""

I have a feeling that if Lego man (my new name for him, his head looks just like the Lego figure my 8yo left on my desk) answered that question truthfully the person asking the question would be filled with so much fear and loathing they would run for the exit and have their airplane ready to taxi when they ran up the airstair.

*"news"

I'm usually not so cynical, but I have to agree with other posters that the timing to this "need" is really fishy.

If I ever had a private meeting with Kim, I would ask him: "When you finally go to bed at night and you're just lying there by yourself, do you ever think about the people you've had executed for watching a banned television program or reading a Bible, and the small children you've placed into gulags for life for the crime of being related to someone who read a Bible or watched a television program? And if you do think about it, when there's nobody around to look tough in front of, do you ever cry about it, alone in your bed?""

Mr Kishida is compeled to say something you see. Oh yeah, if he didn’t do anything he’d get moaned at for not caring even though he knows that this will likely produce any progress.

This article omits information relevant to why the North considers it a waste of time:

Japan under then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe rejected a North Korean proposal to return two Japanese men, including a victim of abductions by Pyongyang, in around 2014 and 2015, sources involved in the negotiations have revealed.

It’s not WAR where those happened we are talking about. Moving on like this just by receiving urns without no full explanation? Come on. They were not the one who willingly visit NK and got abducted or detained.

It’s like you could move on by forgiving the very criminals even if your beloved children had been treated like this. Stop Joking.

Amazing there're so many JT posters who believe NK and what It says

Moving on like this? Imagine the victims were those of your beloved home countries.

Before castigating Kim as a brutal one, consider the millions the US and the West have killed in its interventionist wars in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. Many more than the entire North Korean population.

What is left to be done is a full accounting of the abductees, whether dead or alive. Which will of course require a willingness and cooperation from Kim which I don't really see coming in the foreseeable future.

"......to try and resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted in the 1960s and 1970s,......"

50 - 60 years ago! KJU wasn't even born and life expectancy being so short in North Korea there probably are few people left who were involved and they certainly wouldn't have kept any incriminating records. It's not going to happen, Kim has no knowledge and cannot resolve anything. It's over and there is nothing to be done except move on.

The image leading the article makes Kim Jong Un, the half round head flat on top, makes him look like a Lego figure.

It's a good move to try and thaw the ice, communication far better than RISKY military build-up and escalation. Never hurts to try - showing up's 80% success some say!

Abductees, while emotionally charged, could play a great role in helping change the current directory of these relations, great possible peace dividend.

Pretty clear NK's been busy upgrading its military capabilities these days, certainly Russia's helping due to NK war support for Russia at this time, so Kishida's right to recognize growing risks and try to mitigate.

Poorly written article which doesn't mention the latest info on the abductee issue.

I understand that North Korea is a totally different country with a different culture... but WHAT THE HELL WITH THAT HAIRCUT?

The tired old "Let's dominish them by making fun of them" approach used previously during WWII in the portrayal of Japanese people as slanty eyed, bucktoothed etc is trotted out here...Google former NFL Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, same haircut.

I honestly wonder if this problem can be solved.

Of course, the victims are still in North Korea, and I understand that they want to return to Japan.

And although South Korea is not active, it is estimated that there are more abductees than Japanese. There will also be people from other countries.

What to do with the victims who are monitored by North Korea and can't go back to their country even if they want to?

I wonder if it can be resolved through talks with the communist state.

Even if the ransom is said to be 1 trillion yen per person, it will be a problem. If you say you can't pay, you'll be accused of abandoning them.

And if you pay, the money will surely be used to develop nuclear weapons.

It seems to me that the only option is to destroy the current national system and create a nation that allows even a little discussion, but what do you guys think?

Anyway, good move by Kishida to arrange a meeting, even with those considered enemies.

WHAT THE HELL WITH THAT HAIRCUT?

That is an imitation of Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea. Old fashioned now, but you wan to look like the founder of you want to be popular in NK.

Second, We don’t leave our people behind.

yeah. sure.

How long has this issue been going on??

whoa. Almost had me there! Though that was the big "D" for a sec. Back to the beer. More hold hands willing to, pledges. ccplease snd votes!

 Typical move, every Japanese leader always will to show that they do something about abuction issue. In the past even Japanese government doesn't interest when their neighbor offer to return abductees and close this issue.

First, the North Koreans offer to return only two of the abductees in return for closing the issue. What about the other Japanese in North Korea? Every government would said the same thing: No. We want them all back.

Second, We don’t leave our people behind. Every country would do exactly the same thing!

These communist countries.

Barbarians, aren’t they?

He must be thinking about a snap election.

Just another publicity stunt for the election.

Harry_GattoToday  09:04 am JST

Waste of time! Everyone knows, so stop bringing it up every time before an election.

Quite so. Any remaining abductee who is/was willing or able to return would have done so by now and the Japanese government should have the guts to say this; it's over. nothing more can be done.

What is left to be done is a full accounting of the abductees, whether dead or alive. Which will of course require a willingness and cooperation from Kim which I don't really see coming in the foreseeable future.

The whole abductee activity needs to move on from the presumption that they are alive and want to return to Japan, and settle for a full accounting to put the issue to rest.

But at the same time, since SK-JPN relations are improving, both nations should work together on the abduction issue. South Korea has over 400 reported abductees.

He's just playing the Japanese politician's favorite trump card.

I can't see what any more summits with this tiny little midget will achieve - apart from boosting his ego.

Waste of time! Everyone knows, so stop bringing it up every time before an election.

Quite so. Any remaining abductee who is/was willing or able to return would have done so by now and the Japanese government should have the guts to say this; it's over. nothing more can be done.

Adolf, Stalin, Gaddafi, and many like them have their hair styles and mustaches too, it seem to be a trend among dictators.

but WHAT THE HELL WITH THAT HAIRCUT?

its called the Mao Zedong style hair cut. And Kim Jong un admires him I bet

Better pack a 9mm while meeting little kim, never know what he will do!?

Interesting that the birthrate is so low in S Korea that N Korea will overtake the south in population in one generation.

If they’re both still around then…

Another publicity stunt to further boost his approval ratings.

yup. no good will come of this. just another photo op.

Dude can't get out of Abe's shadow. This is the issue that Abe road to power.

Already we have been told that Kishida is thinking of calling a snap election, also he is under fire for his son's stupid actions taking pictures in the PM's residence, so this is all just a way to get rid of one problem and gin up support for the upcoming election. There is nothing KIshida can do or say to Kim that will change anything.

Just another token move by the LDP. Always the same, visit Fukushima for a photo op, meet with the families of the abducted and make a comment about how they are continuing their search. Like a bad TV rerun.

Waste of time! Everyone knows, so stop bringing it up every time before an election.

And what will meeting accomplish? You'll just be giving rocket man a stage to perform on.

DON’T DO IT!

They lied the last time. They gave bones that were not even the same sex, much less the same person.

The North is in a tight spot. It faces famine and its army is incapable of fighting a war (thus the missiles).

Kim is desperate to break Allied solidarity. He will offer good will a rainbows and of course all of the truth to the grieving families - until he gets what he wants.

Then the deal is broken on some contrived indignity and, oh yeah, he never told the truth, or at least not all of it.

I have loads of sympathy for the families, the Yokotas in particular, but their loved ones are gone, never to return. And 126 million of us remain under nuclear threat from a sociopath.

The government must have priorities and giving a dictatorship credibility is not one of them.

"I am determined to face Kim Jong Un directly myself, without any preconditions," 

And what makes you think he wants to meet you?

"I am determined to face Kim Jong Un directly myself, without any preconditions," 

You want to meet him- not face him. Enough with the tough talk buddy.

Typical move, every Japanese leader always will to show that they do something about abuction issue. In the past even Japanese government doesn't interest when their neighbor offer to return abductees and close this issue.

exactly.

Typical move, every Japanese leader always will to show that they do something about abuction issue. In the past even Japanese government doesn't interest when their neighbor offer to return abductees and close this issue.

https://pl.linkedin.com/posts/north-korean-review-5a723114a_abe-rejected-north-korean-proposal-to-return-activity-6977475032457392128-tw-6

It’s about time for a Japanese PM to engage with North Korea.

I understand that North Korea is a totally different country with a different culture... but WHAT THE HELL WITH THAT HAIRCUT?