Abe Welcomes North Korea’s Release of 3 U.S. Citizens

May 10, 2018

Tokyo- Talking over the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed North Korea's release of three U.S. citizens who had been held in the country on charges of espionage or hostile acts.

During the 20-minute conversation, Abe said that the freeing of the detainees is "a big achievement and reflects Pyongyang's positive attitude," according to officials with access to the talks.

Trump phoned Abe to brief the prime minister on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ahead of the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit expected to be held by early June. Following the talks, the three were freed and left North Korea with Pompeo.

Abe informed Trump of the outcome of Wednesday's Japan-China-South Korea summit in Tokyo.

Discussing North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens and other issues, the U.S. president expressed his willingness to closely cooperate with Japan, the officials said.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their continued cooperation toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea, the officials noted, adding Trump called Japan "a big player" during the talks.

Abe and Trump may have exchanged opinions on possible direct dialogue between Tokyo and Pyongyang, people familiar with the matter said.

Speaking to reporters after the telephone summit, Abe pointed out that many Japanese people are still confined in North Korea.

Japan "will make all-out efforts" to bring them back seeking help from the United States, China and South Korea collectively and individually, Abe stressed. Jiji Press