Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters on March 25. (Takeshi Iwashita)

Tokyo remained guarded about Pyongyang’s intentions after North Korea signaled that the “abduction issue” would be off the agenda for a possible bilateral summit.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency reported on March 25 that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has recently conveyed his intention to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in person as soon as possible.

In a statement carried by the agency, however, Kim Yo Jong, Kim’s sister, reiterated North Korea’s position that the issue of Japanese abducted by Pyongyang had already been resolved.

She said North Korea cannot avoid the assessment that a proposed summit would fall a “little short of” Kishida’s attempt to gain popularity if Japan is “engrossed” in the already-settled abduction issue.

At a news conference the same day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said North Korea’s contention on the abduction issue is “totally unacceptable.”

Many Japanese government officials said Tokyo needs to carefully assess the implications of Kim Yo Jong’s statement.

A senior government official said North Korea is trying to upset Japan.

“We should not overreact. Otherwise, we would play into their hands,” the official said.

At least 17 Japanese citizens were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s, apparently to help enhance Pyongyang’s espionage program.

In 2002, following the first-ever Japan-North Korea summit held in Pyongyang, five abductees were returned to Japan. North Korea has since maintained that the abduction issue is resolved.

However, other abductees remain missing, and Japan has been pressing North Korea for answers on their whereabouts.

In a statement in February, Kim Yo Jong said Kishida could visit Pyongyang someday unless Japan turns the abductions into an obstacle.

A Japanese government official said Kishida’s visit to Pyongyang would be “too risky” because he could come under public criticism if the summit fails to lead to a breakthrough in the abduction issue.

Kishida has publicly stated he is seeking a summit with Kim Jong Un.

“I have said a top-level meeting with Kim Jong Un is important to resolve outstanding issues with North Korea,” Kishida said on March 25. “I have said various approaches will be made (toward North Korea) at levels under my direct control.”

However, Kishida said nothing has been decided about a possible bilateral summit.

According to sources familiar with Japan-North Korea relations, Japanese government officials secretly met with officials of the Workers’ Party of Korea, North Korea’s ruling party, over the abduction issue in Southeast Asia in March and May last year.

Japan’s ultimate goal is to quickly repatriate Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea because their family members are aging.

“We expect a courageous and wise decision by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to settle the humanitarian problem,” Takuya Yokota, who heads the association of abductees’ family members, said in response to Kim Yo Jong’s statement. “We cannot compromise on our demand that all abductees be immediately returned to Japan.”

In February, the association adopted a policy not to oppose the lifting of Japan’s sanctions against North Korea on condition that all abductees are immediately returned to Japan while their parents and those in their generation are still alive.

Takuya Yokota is the brother of Megumi Yokota, who was snatched in Niigata Prefecture in 1977 when she was 13 years old.

“Nothing will move unless negotiations are held,” Sakie Yokota, Megumi’s 88-year-old mother, said. “I never know what lies ahead, but I hope things will move forward even by a little bit.”

The United States, which confronts North Korea’s weapons programs with Japan and South Korea, has apparently signaled that it would not oppose Kishida’s visit to Pyongyang, according to sources familiar with Japan-U.S. relations.

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