Abe negative about Moon’s possible visit to N. Korea

February 15, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday sounded negative about the idea of South Korean President Moon Jae-in visiting North Korea now.

"The important thing is whether the visit is expected to help make progress" toward North Korea's denuclearization, Abe told a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting.

Moon was invited to visit the North during a meeting with Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in Seoul on Saturday.

Referring to past visits to North Korea by two of Moon's predecessors, Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, Abe said: "It's necessary to examine the results thoroughly. Dialogue for the sake of dialogue is meaningless."

Abe also responded to a question about a possible firing of a North Korean ballistic missile toward Guam. He highlighted the need to take steps to ensure that the government would be able to speedily recognize an attack on an ally as a situation that threatens the survival of Japan defined under the security legislation, so as to shoot down missiles if necessary.

On the government's efforts for the return of the Russian-held islands claimed by Japan, Abe said it is necessary to gain support on the matter from Russian residents of the islands through planned joint economic activities with the Russian side there.

Regarding Russian concerns that once the islands are returned to Japan, a U.S. military base would be built there, Abe said Japan's consent is needed for such a move. Jiji Press