North Korea Plays Host To Aide Of The Prime Minister Of Japan

North Korea Plays Host To Aide Of The Prime Minister Of Japan

Tensions at the Korean peninsula may be eased following the unannounced visit of an aid to the prime minister of Japan to North Korea.

The Korean Central News Agency, the state-run media agency, revealed that Kim Chol Ho, an official from the Foreign Ministry of the North met Isao Iijima, an aide of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. The same Japanese official also visited Pyongyang while serving as the secretary of Junichiro Koizumi, a former Japanese prime minister. He visited the North in 2004 and in 2004 to deal with the issue on Japanese citizens who were seized by the North.

No statements were released by Abe in connection to the latest visit of Iijima to the North.

Talks in connection to the abduction were stopped following the announcement of the plan of North Korea to launch a long-range rocket last December. A nuclear device was also tested by the North and hinted at a possible preemptive nuclear missile strikes against South Korea and the US following the imposition of sanctions by the UN.

In 2002, the North admitted to the abduction of thirteen Japanese citizens in the 70s and 80s. Five of the abducted Japanese citizens were able to return home but the rest are reportedly already dead. However, Japan indicated that seventeen people were abducted and a full report should be given about the ones who were not able to return.

The defense ministry of South Korea revealed that North Korea is preparing to detonate a fourth nuclear device following the February test. Reports have also revealed that the two ballistic missiles were withdrawn from their launch sites, no confirmations were made by either South Korea or the US did.

Abe is at the forefront in the drive for the return of the abducted Japanese citizens. He said in a policy speech last February that his mission will remain incomplete until the Japanese citizens, who were abducted by North Korea, are reunited with their families.

Posted by James Fried on Thursday May 16 2013, 2:03 AM EST. Ref: Bloomberg. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0