Abe in last-ditch move for influence

Essential issues

Japan has maintained that the resolution of the abduction, missile and nuclear issues is essential before it can normalize ties with the DPRK. But Pyongyang says the issue has been settled.

On Monday, the Korea Central News Agency criticized Abe and other Japanese officials for insisting on pressuring the DPRK. It said Japan worries about being "marginalized from the structure around the Korean Peninsula".

Jenna Gibson, communications director at the Washington-based Korea Economic Institute, said the US and Japan remain divergent on the issue of the abductees.

"Addressing the Japanese abductees who were taken by the North Koreans is a high priority for Japan, and for Abe personally. In principle, the US agrees that North Korea should address the issue, but doesn't see it as a top priority in the same way that Abe does," Gibson said.

Wang Shaopu, a researcher of Japanese studies at Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said Abe has made the return of abductees a key political issue as he faces domestic pressure from his political scandals, but this is definitely not a key issue in the upcoming Kim-Trump summit as there are prior challenges to solve between the US and the DPRK.

Liu Jiangyong, a professor at Tsinghua University, said: "Abe wants to make progress on the abductees to be given the same weight as demands over the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs, but unfortunately, his lobbying has become less persuasive."

Japan maintained the stance of putting "maximum pressure" toward the DPRK, yet Trump softened his tone last week and retreated from using the term "maximum pressure", claiming that the US and the DPRK are "getting along".