Abe: "Will Explore All Means to Hold Summit with North Korea"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe mentioned that he will use all possible means to realize a summit meeting with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un to resolve the issue of Japanese abductees by North Korea. Since last year, Prime Minister Abe has consistently expressed his willingness to hold a North Korea-Japan summit unconditionally, but it is known that no common ground has been found with the North Korean side.

In an exclusive interview with Sankei Shimbun on the 7th, Prime Minister Abe stated regarding the resolution of the Japanese abductee issue, "My intention to meet directly with Chairman Kim without any conditions remains unchanged," and added, "I am exploring all possible methods to never miss any opportunity through various channels." Since expressing his desire to hold an unconditional summit with Chairman Kim in May last year, Prime Minister Abe has emphasized the realization of a North Korea-Japan summit whenever there was an opportunity.

However, the summit with North Korea has hardly materialized. In June last year, a spokesperson for the North Korean Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Asia-Pacific harshly criticized the Japanese government's unconditional summit proposal as a shameless act. North Korea has continued to ignore Prime Minister Abe's proposals, claiming there is no abductee issue to resolve with Japan.

In the same interview with Sankei Shimbun, Prime Minister Abe also mentioned COVID-19 measures, expressing his intention to gradually lift the state of emergency region by region starting from the 14th. He said, "We will establish criteria for lifting the state of emergency based on infection trends and expert analysis, and thoroughly explain this to the public," adding, "Even if we cannot lift it on the 14th, we will not wait until the 31st."

He also strongly reiterated his determination to amend the existing constitution. Responding to some calls to discuss constitutional amendments to include emergency provisions in light of the COVID-19 crisis, he said, "Those opposed to constitutional revision always say 'Now is not the time,'" and argued, "Constitutional revision is not a matter of timing but of necessity."

Prime Minister Abe has been pushing for a constitutional amendment to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, which has renounced war and the use of force since the Pacific War, to guarantee the Self-Defense Forces' role as a military force. However, progress has been stalled due to opposition from opposition parties. There is criticism that he intends to use the logic of legally enshrining the state of emergency declaration, highlighted by the COVID-19 crisis, in the constitution rather than in law, to prepare for national crises and advance constitutional revision.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.