Trump Vows to Raise Abduction Issue at Summit with N. Korea

April 18, 2018

Palm Beach, Florida- US President Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to bring up the issue of Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese nationals during a planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump made the promise in response to a request from visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during their one-on-one meeting accompanied only by their interpreters, which lasted nearly an hour. Senior Japanese and US government officials later joined the two leaders to hold talks for another hour and 10 minutes.

After the one-on-one session, Abe told reporters that Trump clearly promised to raise the abduction issue during the US-North Korea summit.

"I expect that the planned summit will be a historic one that marks progress toward the resolution of the nuclear, missile and abduction issues," Abe also said.

"We will bring up (the issue of) the abductees, we'll bring up many different things," Trump told Abe. "It's time for solving problems."

Abe said that changes in the attitude of North Korea were the result of the overwhelming pressure applied by the United States on the back of the world's No. 1 military power.

Abe is visiting Palm Beach, Florida, for two-day talks with Trump through Wednesday at the president's Mar-a-Lago resort. Their sixth meeting was arranged at Abe's request made after Trump's decision to meet with Kim.

The first summit between the United States and North Korea is expected to be held in May or early June.

According to the Japanese government, Abe and Trump reaffirmed their policy of maintaining maximum pressure on North Korea to make the reclusive state abandon its nuclear and missile development programs completely in a verifiable and irreversible manner.

Trump told Abe that he wants to take a strong approach toward North Korea and that he will do his best with Japan's interests in mind.

Regarding last week's airstrikes against Syria by the United States, Britain and France, Abe conveyed to Trump Japan's support for the determination shown by the three countries.

The two leaders also discussed economic issues during their one-on-one meeting. But the Japanese government did not disclose details of the discussion.

Later on Tuesday, Abe and his wife, Akie, will attend a dinner party with Trump and his wife, Melania.

On Wednesday, Abe and Trump will discuss trade issues and play golf together to demonstrate their strong relationship of trust. Jiji Press