Abe hails outcome of inter-Korean summit; business leaders skeptical

The abduction issue is important despite what some here will say, but Abe needs to find a better time to discuss this. First establish ties with North Korea, then deal with the abduction issue later.

No comment by Shinzo about the mouse. Good, like Oldman says, build the relationship and work on the issue with win,win propositions. Sticks in the mud never remain for long.

Abe would be best served by listening and not pushing any agenda.

Abe brushed off concerns that Japan has become isolated amid the diplomatic developments related to North Korea, saying Tokyo will closely coordinate with Washington and Seoul on policy toward Pyongyang.

It is.

On the abduction issue, he said in a parliament committee session Thursday that "while cooperation with the United States and South Korea is important, in the end we must resolve it (ourselves)."

I'm going to read into this that Abe has realized that Trump does not care about this issue.

Kono said this would mean "comprehensively resolving the abduction, nuclear and missile (issues) and settling our unfortunate past." The unfortunate past mentioned in the declaration is understood to refer to Japan's colonial rule of the Korean peninsula.

Excellent words Mr Kono.

In a CNN interview, South Korea's Foreign Minister yesterday tells Christine Amanpour that "clearly, credit goes to President Trump"

Amanpour and CNN must have felt like throwing up.

PRICELESS!!

It was a great "ceremony." But North Korea will be keeping nukes and Kim will not change the regime. Final purpose of the unification of Korea will not come until Kim is gotten rid of.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/26/world/korea-summit-kang-kyung-wha-amanpour-intl/index.html

what a beautiful thing.

Someone's slowly realizing how unimportant he really is in the thick of things. Shame on the snivelling cowards for using the abduction issue to score cheap points. Disgusting!!!

Am not surprised most are skeptical about the “summit”, nothing concrete came from it besides some hand holding and seeing Moon fawn like a girl over Kim

A complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would necessitate the removal of all US nuclear weapons and nuclear capabilities, including aircraft carriers, submarines, missiles, stealth bombers etc etc.

I haven't heard that mentioned much in discussions, but I suppose it's top of the agenda in the private talks.

South and North Korea may have discussed and aimed at "peaceful coexistence." More friendly exchanges between them. It is not bad. By softening relations, North Korea can ease their economic crunch.

The South Korean chaebol’s must be chomping at the bit in hopes of being able to modernize the north and make money.

Why is finance a problem?

Korean banks can print as much money as they want getting the north to modernise!

Allowing the transport network to push into China and Russia would mean cheaper raw materials for the Koreans allowing more competitive production costs for many products and conversely access to the markets of China, Russia and beyond or exports.

A rich high tech superpower in the making.....

What is the meaning to Abe go to Middle East? Isn't he losing his time where he really needs his reputation back in that abduction issue to be successful? I don't know why that hurry to plan to travel here and there when the priorities are focused in his political administration in Japan...If he created the internal problems in Japan he has to stay steady to explain (avoiding due to his busy plans) and let diplomatic plans to Foreign Minister Taro Kono resolve, who is much effective personnel at this moment, where there's no need to prime minister be there.

Did I just read Abe hails Korean Summit? 2 weeks ago he was dead against any meeting. Now he hails it, got the feeling he is out of the loop. Best his government could do was give a desert criticism that further disengaged Japan from the big boys conversation. Fled to Trump for validation that doesn't seem to have happened, Summoned Moon that didn't happen. Priorities of the adults are on the millions living within artillery range of each other and the shadow of Nuclear weapons. As sad as it is 17 abducted people decades ago are not worth bringing up. Abe has managed to diplomaticly isolate Japan from its nearest neighbor. Might be time to be the big man and visit Yausukuni now that would be icing on the Mouse.

Its not fair that Moon, Xi and Trump get to meet Kim-san and have Summits, and PM Abe doesnt get to meet Kim. Japan is very important to NK future so PM Abe should get to have Summit with Kim.

Assuming that NK intends to stick to it's word about no more missile tests, Japan has gotten the main thing it wanted - no more missiles overhead. Comments about Japan not being involved, being sidelined are utterly asinine since Japan is not located on the Korean Peninsula and unlike South Korea and the United States, it is not in a state of war with North Korea as it was not part of he UN Command in the Korean War. If Japan has been "sidelined" so have 21 combatant nations.  Both South Korea and the U.S. are keeping Japan abreast of developments for obvious reasons.

As for abductions, which include more nationalities than just Japan, it's part of the overall pressure we are continuing to ensure that North Korea actually denuclearizes. The sanctions are in full force, and the British Royal Navy in now in Yokosuka to assist in preventing sanctions evasion. Australia and Canada have now sent reconnaissance aircraft to Okinawa for the same purpose. The position being taken by the U.S., regardless of who the current POTUS is, is the correct one. Removing the North Korean threat is a global priority.

This is the third time I have seen a meeting between North and South Korea in my lifetime and I watched the other two fail as North Korea broke their word each time. So forgive me if I am skeptical and see no grounds to rejoice until we see verified action towards actual denuclearization.

Wow, thanks Abe. I'm sure both leaders of their respective Koreas can sleep easy tonight knowing they have your seal of approval.

Abe trolls are having a field day today.

No one has directly answered my ealier post. Shucks.

So - can someone please explain to me what the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsuls  means.

Marceito:

LOL, Yeah, Abe should start his own #metoo movement, as in 'Please include me too. Don't ignore me. I want to be relevant!'