Abe asks Moon to discuss abductions with Kim Jong Un

March 17, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday to discuss North Korea's abductions of foreign nationals at an inter-Korean summit scheduled for late April.

In telephone talks, Moon told Abe that the two Koreas will be able to develop their relationship after North Korea improves its relations with not only the United States but also Japan.

Abe told Moon that Japan aims to normalize its diplomatic relations with North Korea based on a bilateral declaration issued in 2002.

There is no change in Japan's policy of seeking to normalize its relations with North Korea after achieving a comprehensive resolution to various pending issues, including Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development as well as its abductions of Japanese nationals, Abe said.

Abe and Moon agreed to continue putting maximum pressure on North Korea to achieve its denuclearization.

Abe said that a suspension of nuclear and missile tests is not enough to denuclearize North Korea and that Pyongyang needs to accept inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The two leaders affirmed that their countries will cooperate closely with the United States on North Korea policy ahead of the inter-Korean summit and a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that is likely to take place by May.

Abe and Moon also agreed to work together to hold a proposed trilateral summit of leaders from Japan, China and South Korea at an early date and resume so-called shuttle diplomacy between Japanese and South Korean leaders. Jiji Press