By Clint Richards
Japan and North Korea make positive noises, while keeping expectations to a minimum.
As both my colleague Zachary and I have noted, official talks are underway in Stockholm between Japan and North Korea, with the first day of the three-day meeting concluding Monday. Each country has sent a delegation of eight, who made a brief media appearance before discussions got underway. The Japanese side is led by Junichi Ihara, director general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau within the Foreign Ministry, while the North Korean lead delegate is Song Il Ho, ambassador for talks to normalize relations with Japan.
Kyodo News has reported that the key issue for the Japanese will be convince North Korea to reopen an investigation into the abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s. Citing unnamed sources, the report said the Japanese would be willing to lift certain economic sanctions if serious movement was made on the abduction issue. Japan wants to iron out details on how and when North Korea will undertake the investigation.
Read the full story at The Diplomat