She warned that were Japan to remain “engrossed in the abduction issue that has no further settlement” then Kishida’s hopes of improving ties would not materialise.Kishida said Monday that he was not aware of the KCNA report, and did not directly comment on its contents, while calling top-level talks with North Korea “important”.”For Japan-North Korea relations, top-level talks are important to resolve issues such as the abduction issue,” Kishida said in parliament, referring to kidnappings that took place in the 1970s and ’80s.”This is why we have been making various approaches to North Korea at the level directly under my control, as I have said in the past.”Kidnapping issueNorth Korea admitted in 2002 that it had sent agents to kidnap 13 Japanese people in the 1970s and ’80s who were used to train spies in Japanese language and customs.The abductions remain a potent and emotional issue in Japan and suspicions persist that many more were abducted than have been officially recognised.Sakie Yokota, 88, whose daughter Megumi is among the missing abductees, told Japanese media on Monday that she wanted the two countries to hold talks “as soon as possible”.”I don’t know if talks will take place, because it’s North Korea, but I hope even a small step will be made. We really don’t have much time left,” she said.
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