Japan has “great interest” in China-N. Korea summit: Abe

March 28, 2018

Tokyo- Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday showed the country's "great interest" in a summit reportedly held between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday.

"We're collecting and analyzing information on the meeting with great interest," Abe told a meeting of the House of Councillors Budget Committee.

"We hope to get an explanation from the Chinese side," he said, adding that existing international sanctions on North Korea need to be maintained until the reclusive state takes concrete steps toward its denuclearization.

North Korea "is now seeking dialogue" as the international community, including China and Russia, has increased its pressure on Pyongyang to the maximum, Abe said, suggesting that the sanctions are producing effects.

"It's important for North Korea to scrap its nuclear weapons and missiles completely, verifiably and irreversibly," Abe stressed.

Abe also said resolving the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals is "a top priority" for Tokyo in its relations with Pyongyang.

"We'd like to capitalize on a U.S.-North Korean summit," Abe said, indicating that he plans to ask U.S. President Donald Trump for cooperation over the matter during his planned visit to the United States in mid-April. Trump and Kim are expected to hold a meeting by May. Jiji Press