Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae delivers a policy speech at parliament in Tokyo on Monday. [Reuters]
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae delivers a policy speech at parliament in Tokyo on Monday. [Reuters]

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has signaled her determination to achieve a breakthrough on the abduction issue during her tenure, telling US President Donald Trump — who is pursuing a North Korea-US summit — that she is also willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The Asahi Shimbun reported Tuesday that Takaichi met at the prime minister's office with families of abduction victims, including Yokota Takuya, the younger brother of Yokota Megumi, who was abducted by North Korea in 1977, as well as lawmakers from the Diet Members' League for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea.

Kato Katsunobu, a former chief cabinet secretary and acting chairman of the lawmakers' league who attended the meeting, told reporters that Takaichi said she had secured "strong support for the abduction issue" at the Japan-US summit. During their meeting in New York last month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Takaichi asked Trump to convey to Kim her wish to meet him so that the abduction issue could be discussed if a North Korea-US summit takes place.

Takaichi reiterated Tuesday that she wants to "continue persuading North Korea through various channels and open a breakthrough during my tenure, no matter what."

The families also shared with Takaichi the results of their own visit to the United States last month. A delegation comprising the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, the support group National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea, and cross-party lawmakers traveled to the US from Sept. 21 to Sept. 25, meeting with Department of State officials and members of Congress to seek cooperation in resolving the abduction issue.

After the meeting, Yokota told reporters that while progress may not be visible on the surface, he believes the Takaichi government is doing everything it can to resolve the issue. "I hope they will continue to pursue diplomacy with perseverance," he said.


kate01@heraldcorp.com