Abe says still willing to meet N. Korean Leader unconditionally

May 16, 2019

Tokyo--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday that he is still willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without preconditions, despite Pyongyang's recent firing of short-range ballistic missiles.

The position of seeking to realize a summit with North Korea unconditionally to resolve the issue of Japanese abductees in the country "hasn't changed," Abe told a plenary meeting of the House of Representatives.

Abe expressed his readiness to meet Kim without preconditions during telephone talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 6.

Three days later, North Korea fired two projectiles, which the Japanese and U.S. governments have confirmed to be short-range ballistic missiles.

At the Lower House meeting, Abe reiterated his determination to meet face-to-face with the North Korean leader to "break the shell of mutual distrust, toward resolving North Korean nuclear and missile issues, and most importantly, the abduction issue."

"It's important for our country to work proactively to revolve the abduction issue," he added. Jiji Press