Japan's Suga: "I Want to Negotiate Directly with Kim Jong-un on the Abduction Issue"

"Will Advise Biden to Rejoin TPP... Difficult for China to Participate"

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga
[Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has once again expressed his intention to directly negotiate with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un to resolve the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.

In an interview in the form of a dialogue with right-wing commentator Yoshiko Sakurai, published by Sankei Shimbun on the 3rd, Prime Minister Suga reiterated the stance of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was willing to meet Kim Jong-un unconditionally, saying, "I want to have a direct negotiation with Kim (Jong-un) by any means." Referring to the passing of the families of the abductees, including Shigeru Yokota, the father of abductee Megumi Yokota, last year, Suga emphasized, "There really is no time. We cannot delay even a little. I will seriously consider what is the most effective approach."

In this interview, Suga also revealed that he plans to encourage the United States to rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which it withdrew from during the Donald Trump administration, once President-elect Joe Biden takes office. He said, "The TPP was originally a framework proposed by a Democratic president like Barack Obama, similar to Biden, and it is natural for the U.S. to return to the TPP."

Regarding Chinese President Xi Jinping's enthusiasm for joining the TPP, Suga pointed out, "The TPP requires very high-level market opening rules from its member countries, so it will naturally be strict with China as well. Given China's current political and economic system, I think it will be difficult for China to participate." He added, "We will naturally respond cautiously to China's TPP membership issue," and noted, "It is impossible without the consent of each member country, and moreover, Japan is the chair country this year."

On the recent territorial dispute between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyu Islands in Chinese), Suga said, "We are currently conducting simulations on how to protect the Senkaku Islands and will prepare to respond accordingly."

Furthermore, Suga explained that he will secure COVID-19 vaccines so that all citizens can be vaccinated and is preparing to start vaccinations as soon as possible. He added, "I think it is natural to move toward constitutional revision, and I want to properly take on that challenge myself."

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