Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has shelved a proposal to establish liaison offices in Tokyo and Pyongyang for resolving the North Korean abduction issue between the two nations in an apparent aim to further assess the diplomatic stance of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who returns to the White House in January.
Ishiba attended a rally in Tokyo on Saturday, which called for the immediate return of all Japanese abduction victims by North Korea. He emphasized his determination, stating, “strategic decisions by leaders and their execution will drive progress. I will take the lead in resolving this issue.”
“The government will once again consider how to confront North Korea and what steps to take, and will make efforts to realize (the return of the abductees).”