Japan’s PM Takaichi aims to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong Un

Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has announced her intention to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has announced her intention to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. No Japanese leader has held such a summit in more than 20 years.

Takaichi made the announcement during a rally demanding the return of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea decades ago. She said Japan has already conveyed its desire for a summit to North Korea.

She stated, “I want the leaders to meet directly and achieve concrete results. I am determined to resolve the abduction issue during my tenure.”

Japan says that at least 17 of its citizens were abducted by North Korean agents in the late 1970s and 1980s. Five of these citizens were returned in 2002. North Korea disputes the total number of abductees. It claims some died in accidents or by suicide and considers the matter resolved.

For the families of the remaining abductees, many of whom were teenagers when taken, there has been no closure. Successive Japanese governments have pressed the issue, but little progress has been made.

Since taking office, Takaichi has met with families of abductees twice. She also met them with former US President Donald Trump during his visit to Japan. Takaichi has expressed her commitment to continuing the work started by her mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The last major summit between the two countries took place in 2002. Then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Pyongyang to meet Kim Jong Il, the father of Kim Jong Un. This was the first visit by a Japanese leader to North Korea since World War II. During the visit, North Korea officially acknowledged its role in the abductions and offered an apology. Five abductees were returned to Japan, 20 to 30 years after their capture.

Koizumi visited North Korea again in 2004, allowing more family members to return. Since then, no further repatriations have occurred, and talks between the two nations have stalled. Former leaders, including Shinzo Abe and Fumio Kishida, also attempted to meet Kim Jong Un, but no agreements were reached.