Abe to Visit U.S. in April for Talks with Trump on N. Korea

Tokyo, March 9 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to visit the United States in early April to hold talks with President Donald Trump on North Korean issues as the U.S. leader is seen meeting with Kim Jong Un, head of the reclusive country, by May. In telephone talks on Friday, Abe and Trump confirmed the Japanese leader's U.S. visit. Abe told reporters later that North Korea has offered to hold summit talks with the United States, showing its commitment to denuclearization. "I welcome this change shown by North Korea," Abe stressed. During the 30-minute phone conversation, which was held at the request of the U.S. side, Trump told Abe that he is ready to meet with Kim while closely watching further developments. North Korea's latest move "has resulted from the cooperation between Japan and the United States in maximizing pressure on the country together with the international community," Abe said. "It is necessary for North Korea to take concrete actions toward its denuclearization in a fully verifiable and irreversible manner," he added. Abe and Trump confirmed the policy of maintaining maximum pressure on North Korea until Pyongyang actually takes specific actions toward the abandonment of its nuclear and missile development programs. Trump said it is natural to continue sanctions and military pressure on North Korea. Abe sought U.S. support to resolve the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents. Trump said he understands Japan's position well. Abe told reporters that Japan and the United States have been and will be 100 pct together. Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono told reporters the same day, "If North Korea is judged to be only saying that it is ready for denuclearization, the dialogue will be terminated at that point." "There will be no reward for North Korea unless it takes action," he added. Suh Hoon, head of South Korea's National Intelligence Service and one of the country's officials who visited North Korea earlier this week to meet with Kim, will visit Japan for two days from Monday. Kono will hold talks with Suh to receive an explanation on the results of the inter-Korean meeting. The Japanese and South Korean sides are also expected to exchange opinions on a summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, slated for late April. Kono is considering visiting Washington in mid-March. He plans to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis to confirm the solidarity between Japan and the United States over North Korea. END