Country Report Japan
The Economist Intelligence Unit, May 2013, Pages: 29
Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, sent one of his top aides, Isao Iijima, to North Korea on May 14th in an attempt to soothe long-strained relations between the two countries.
Mr Iijima is an influential figure in the Japanese government on policy towards North Korea and was instrumental in facilitating the return of five Japanese abductees during the landmark visit of former prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi (2001-06), to North Korea in 2002. The government in Japan has been very tight-lipped regarding the purpose of the visit, but has indicated openness to engaging with North Korea. When questioned recently in the Diet on Mr Iijima's trip , Mr Abe did not rule out a summit with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.
Diplomats from the two countries resumed talks on the abduction issue in August 2012 and followed this up with a meeting in Mongolia in November of the same year. Despite Mr Abe's traditional hardline stance on North Korea, it appears the Japanese government is keen to reach a deal-even if rudimentary-with North Korea ahead of its upper-house election in July and amid increased isolation on the issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.
Country Report Japan
A step is taken to improve bilateral ties
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