Japan-North Korea summit rumours link Takaichi to shock visit ahead of vote
Despite scepticism, a leading campaigner claims Pyongyang is ready to return surviving abductees for ‘immediate, large-scale’ aid
The suggestion of a breakthrough came from Tsutomu Nishioka, a visiting professor at Reitaku University and long-time campaigner for the abductees’ families.
Nishioka, who chairs the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea and is also a senior member of the conservative Japan Institute for National Fundamentals think tank, told This Week in Asia that Pyongyang had shown openness to talks with Tokyo in exchange for “immediate, large-scale humanitarian aid” that could include food, medicines and fertiliser.
“Towards resolving the abduction issue, I would like the leaders to engage directly with each other and achieve concrete results,” Takaichi told reporters on January 19, the same day she dissolved the lower house for an election set to be held this Sunday.
