There are rising concerns that the Abe Administration will have to prioritize the nuclear issue over the abductees issue in which it has been taking precedence in order to enforce North Korea’s initial actions according to the February 13 Agreement.
The Asahi Newspaper reported on the 12th, “Recent rumors from within the Japanese government suggest that liaisons have been made to progress talks between North Korea and Japan in relation to the ‘initial phrase for the implementation’ for the disablement of North Korea’s nukes and cooperation by affiliated nations.”
With the upcoming Councilors election Prime Minister Abe is stressing a resolution to the abductees’ issue, however, it seems that officials in charge of foreign affairs are deliberating more realistic issues that are on the rise.
For a while, Japan has been claiming a position that it would not participate in providing energy or fuel to North Korea unless progress is made to the abductees issue.
One Japanese governmental official said, “The decision to support 950,000tons of fuel will have to be made after North Korea implements the initial actions,” suggesting that Japan would need to offer assistance in accordance with the other affiliated nations.
The newspaper informed, “Talks between North Korea and Japan have already suspended and raising concerns from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests that progress to the North Korea-Japan relationship will have to spur on, following progresses already made to North Korea-South Korea and U.S.-North Korea talks.”
“During former Prime Minister Koizumi’s term in office, specific action was made such as the return of 5 abductees, however the Abe Administration continues to remain at a standstill” and added, “The Foreign Affairs Ministry is advocating a need for a realistic approach for the advantage of national interests.”
The newspaper also reported that the South Korean and U.S. governments had proposed that North Korean authorities conduct reinvestigations on Japanese abductees.
According to a source of the six party talks, “It seems that both South Korea and the U.S. made these propositions to sway Japan in participating in providing energy to North Korea after the nuclear facilities have been suspended” and “North Korea has not made any clear responses as yet.”
The source also said, “At the time of his visit to North Korea, U.S. Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill stressed that Japan as the world’s second economic power would be a great advantage to North Korea” and informed that the U.S. had proposed a reinvestigation on the abductees issue. It seems that similar proposals will be made through South and North affiliates also.
If North Korea agrees to conduct reinvestigations on the abductees issue, then Japan is guaranteed to participate in energy support and resume North Korea-Japan talks. Even the U.S. and South Korea are trying to maintain the framework of the six party talks and disablement of North Korea’s nukes by making additional proposals and efforts for North Korea-Japan relations to improve.
