Seoul's special envoy meets with Japanese Prime Minister Abe, Japan seeks 'concrete steps' from Pyongyang
  • 6 years ago
And we move to Japan, where another South Korean Presidential envoy sat down with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the results of the recent visits to Pyongyang and Washington.
The Japanese leader showed strong support for the move toward dialogue.
Hwang Ho-jun has our top story. According to the Blue House, the meeting was originally scheduled for 15 minutes but lasted over an hour.

"I came here today to deliver a message from President Moon Jae-in that cooperation between Japan and South Korea is essential to maintaining the progress towards peace on the Korean Peninsula that started with the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics."

In the meeting with South Korea's intel chief, Suh Hoon, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his gratitude for President Moon Jae-in sending a special envoy to explain in detail the results of the recent talks in Pyongyang and the U.S.
He said he respects President Moon's leadership for bringing about change and progress in inter-Korean relations and for taking steps toward the denuclearization of the Peninsula.
He also called those achievements the byproducts of close cooperation among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.
There's been speculation that North Korea is simply trying to buy time, agreeing to two summits one after the other, but Abe told Suh he doesn't believe that's the case.
He welcomed the push for dialogue, and promised Japan's support and cooperation for a successful summit between the two Koreas as well as between Pyongyang and Washington.
Prime Minister Abe stressed, though, that North Korea has to act on its promises.

"It is extremely important that North Korea takes specific steps toward denuclearization, that these words become a reality."

Suh Hoon arrived in Japan on Monday and met first with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, who said Tokyo would work closely with Seoul and Washington and referred to the situation a near "miracle."
Suh is set to return back to Korea Tuesday night.
Hwang Hojun, Arirang News.
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