N Korean media says abductions of Japan's nationals 'resolved'

North Korea's official Pyongyang Broadcasting Station said Friday that the issue of Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese nationals has "already been settled," according to the Tokyo-based Radio Press news agency.

The first salvo. Next up, Abe's "strong" response!

Quite frankly, I think that if any of the abductees remained and were known to the NK government they would have sent them back years ago to save any further hassle.

Resolved? They didn't say how!

So will Trump risk everything he has talked up over the abductees or leave his mate Shinzo swinging solo? Form suggests the latter.

Of course the abductees problem was resolved! None of them were living now. Unless Japan wants their death certificate or report how they died. But what's the difference?

That is not a big news. They are always repeating same word anyway. N Korea seems to get nothing from Japan for years as long as NK is repeating it.

We should forgive our dear leader for his corruption and worship him for a few people who were abducted sometime last century. And our dear leader should never apologize for comfort women and girl last century either.

I get the feeling that Japans main interest is compensation.

"Already resolved". Huh?

I suppose they have resolved the thousands of people they abducted from South Korea too?

DPRK either cannot be bothered to address this issue sincerely, or they are deliberately annoying Japan. They have shown no evidence of any effort made. Either way, it smacks of disrespect, and it really does seem as if they do not care.

Just about as solved as the skeletons of those war slaves buried under Japanese buildings, I suppose.

This won't last. Everybody including NK knows Japan's contribution is necessary for rebuilding NK economically, including Kim who assured Moon that he wanted to normalize relations with Japan and was prepared to discuss the abductions issue. And everyone knows the abduction issue is the key to opening Japan's wallet. Hence both SK and US pressing this issue with Kim.

From the NK perspective, among the 3 allies, only Japan has a resident North Korean population and a defacto diplomatic channel in the Chongryon (Chosensoren). It is also,unlike the US and SK, not officially in a state of war with NK. All of which NK undoubtedly intends to utilize to it's advantage.

NK is not making any references to past WWII or colonial era issues with Japan. Yet there are posters here who just can't seem to let it go. From what we've seen over the past 2 years, the NK negative view of the US who actually bombed and killed NK civilians, by far exceeds that of Japan who did not kill koreans as they were Japanese nationals from 1910-1945.

Everybody including NK knows Japan's contribution is necessary for rebuilding NK economically

SK, China, US are essential. Not Japan. Japan is never essential to anything these days in case you haven't noticed.

And everyone knows the abduction issue is the key to opening Japan's wallet.

The abduction issue is key to Abe wanting to appear to care about Japan's national interests.

Hence both SK and US pressing this issue with Kim.

Are they? Where?

NK negative view of the US who actually bombed and killed NK civilians, by far exceeds that of Japan who did not kill koreans as they were Japanese nationals from 1910-1945.

But they did torture and kill plenty of ethnic Koreans. Saying no Koreans died, even of old age or of disease or misadventure during that period, because technically they were all Japanese, is just semantics.

Wow, NK didn’t waste time.

Poor Abe...

Well, so much for NK diplomancy.

Does Kim and company want Japanese aid, or not?

They got to do a better job than this.

OssanAmerica: "This won't last. Everybody including NK knows Japan's contribution is necessary for rebuilding NK economically, including Kim who assured Moon that he wanted to normalize relations with Japan and was prepared to discuss the abductions issue. And everyone knows the abduction issue is the key to opening Japan's wallet. Hence both SK and US pressing this issue with Kim."

Wrong. NK has spoken, and with the US saying they would mention it to NK as a favor to Japan, the US has done all it promised to do. Abe has already said he is willing to meet, and the US, which Japan has agreed with 100% the whole time, with Abe flying there more than once to kiss Trump's butt, has told Japan they expect them to give money to NK. What's Japan going to do? say "no"? Hahaha. We already know that is not in Abe's vocabulary when it comes to Trump. He's only going to say, "It's regrettable" to the domestic media, and "How much?" to Trump.

Japan dug this grave for itself and has been putting the nails in the coffin since. There is now officially zero they can do on this issue, except kow-tow to the US, which Abe will do.

Although NO ONE has definitive proof one way or the other personally I strongly suspect ALL or most of the abductee's are no longer with us.

Consider for a FACT we are talking about NK, ie. those abducted were living in NK. Not exactly a place with a long life expectancy for most, & once one passed does anyone seriously expect accurate record keeping, marked graves, no mixing of remains etc etc etc .

Add it all up & I suspect it is pretty much IMPOSSIBLE for NK to provide remains EVEN IF IT WANTS TOO!

WE will see if there is any traction in Japan's side but personally I suspect all or most of the abductee's are no longer of this earth sadly & anyone expecting accurate forensic TRUTH from NK is totally dreaming.

And here we are.

Well, you can look at this issue cynically, in a resigned shoulder-shrugging way, or you can look at it from the point of view of a parent or other close relative who will not let the issue drop so easily. These folks will not just walk away without some serious truth and honesty here, something that rings not hollow.

OssanAmericaJune 16 09:25 pm JST

From what we've seen over the past 2 years, the NK negative view of the US who actually bombed and killed NK civilians, by far exceeds that of Japan who did not kill koreans as they were Japanese nationals from 1910-1945.

So they suffered just as much because of the Imperial Japanese government's incompetence and callous disregard for the lives of its own soldiers and people as ethnic Japanese nationals did.

nandakandamandaToday 12:22 pm JST

These folks will not just walk away without some serious truth and honesty here, something that rings not hollow.

Why would the North Koreans want to keep lying about this? What benefit is there to keeping up a deception that offsets the loss of Japanese economic aid and development? Perhaps Shinzo Abe should provide serious truth and honesty by admitting he knows these abductees are most likely dead but has nevertheless been cynically milking the issue for political gain.