Abe Vows to Realize Japan-N. Korea Summit

November 15, 2018

Singapore--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday showed his resolve to realize a Japan-North Korea summit, seeking support from his counterparts at a so-called ASEAN Plus Three meeting in Singapore.

"I'm determined to resolve early the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals by breaking the barrier of mutual mistrust and facing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un squarely," Abe said.

The Singapore meeting brought together leaders of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, China and South Korea.

"North Korea is now at a juncture to determine whether it can seize a historic opportunity," Abe said, adding Pyongyang would be able to envision a bright future if the day comes when pending issues are resolved.

Also at the meeting, Abe said Japan will work together with China and South Korea to help the ASEAN countries reduce plastic waste threatening marine ecosystems.

He called on countries imposing regulations on imports of Japanese food to lift or ease them as quickly as possible. The import restrictions were introduced after the March 2011 nuclear accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s <9501> Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in northeastern Japan. Jiji Press