Abe, Trump affirm cooperation on abduction issue

February 21, 2019

Tokyo--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed bilateral cooperation on North Korean issues in phone talks Wednesday night, ahead of the second U.S.-North Korea summit next week.

The issues include abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea and the communist country's nuclear and missile development programs, Abe told reporters.

In the phone talks, Abe said he met with families of abduction victims Tuesday. He asked Trump to convey Japan's view on the abduction issue directly to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un when they meet in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi for two days from Feb. 27.

Trump replied he understands well how important the abduction issue is to Abe, adding that Trump will also put an emphasis on the issue, according to Abe.

The prime minister is believed to have received explanations from Trump about progress in negotiations between the United States and North Korea. The two leaders also adjusted views on the approach to the negotiations.

"I strongly expect that the (Hanoi) meeting will lead to the resolution of the nuclear, missile and abduction issues and result in the peace and stability in East Asia," Abe told reporters.

Abe and Trump agreed to have another phone conversation after the Hanoi summit. They also confirmed that the two countries will fully start arrangements for Trump's visit to Japan, currently expected for May 26-28.

Japanese officials said Abe and Trump did not discuss Tokyo's relations with South Korea or Russia, or Abe's reported nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Jiji Press