Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that US President Donald Trump supported his intention to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in order to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean security services between 1970s and1980s
TOKYO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 27th May, 2019) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that US President Donald Trump supported his intention to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in order to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean security services between 1970s and1980s.
"Bearing in mind the latest North Korean situation, we spent a good amount of time on better aligning our policies. The positions of Japan and the United States in this regard are completely on the same page ... I'm determined that I have to face [North Korean] Chairman Kim Jong Un myself, directly, without any conditions. I will meet the chairman and I would like to have a frank discussion. President Trump has expressed strong support to my determination as such. I'm saying that he will support me totally and will not spare any effort in assisting me," Abe said at a joint press conference with Trump, held after their talks.
Japan insists that North Korean security services abducted a total of 17 Japanese nationals. Most of them were reportedly kidnapped in order to teach Japanese language and culture at schools for North Korean spies, so that they could pretend to be Japanese. Pyongyang admitted in 2002 abducting only 13 of them, denying involvement in any other disappearances. Five of the kidnapped Japanese citizens repatriated in 2002, and North Korea has claimed that eight other have died. Tokyo refuses to believe this and requests investigation.
