[imText1]Japan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Taro Aso revealed that if the normalization of Japan-North Korea working group relations established at the six party talks could not produce progress on the abductees’ issue, then Japan would implement additional sanctions against North Korea.
On the morning of 21st, Minister Aso said at the Foreign Affairs Committee “If no act of earnestness is shown (by North Korea), other sanctions could be passed.”
Kyoko Nakayama, special advisor to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the issue of abductees said “It is possible that additional measures will be taken, if North Korea does not show any signs of integrity at the Japan-North Korea Talks.” These additional sanctions referred to by Nakayama include bans on general trade with North Korea as well as embargos on shipping vessels entering and exiting the ports.
In relation to this, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said “On the negotiation table, we must try hard to make progress at the talks with the utmost efforts, rather than drawing on sanctions,” suggesting that sanctions will not be drawn immediately.
However, on the previous day, affiliates of the Association for the Abductees’ Families met at the prime ministerial office and stressed “The normalization of bilateral relations cannot happen without the resolution of abductees.”
In a meeting with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki on the 21st, Former President Dick Cheney said that the six party talks were progressing towards the right direction in solving North Korea’s nukes, reported Reuters.
Reuters informed that the U.S. was in a position on par with Japan regarding the abductees issue and that the two parties had shared opinion on the significance of China’s role.
In addition, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki stressed the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance and the report responded that the mere fact former President Cheney visited both Japan and Australia sent a strong message to the U.S.-Japan alliance.
As a press briefing prior to the meeting with former President Cheney, Chief Cabinet Secretary revealed that though the Japan-U.S. working group was operating independent to the six party talks, it would in the end result in a mutual settlement. Furthermore, regarding energy support to North Korea, he re-emphasized that efforts were being made to develop the issue of abductees.
