Ahead of the planned U.S.-North Korea summit talks, it is important for both the Japanese and U.S. governments to keep step with each other on their policies regarding North Korea.
Foreign Minister Taro Kono visited the United States, and during his talks with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence both agreed on the importance of urging Pyongyang to take concrete measures toward complete denuclearization.
Kono emphasized that it is necessary to maintain maximum pressure on North Korea. Pence responded by saying that Japan and the United States are with each other 100 percent on their policies toward North Korea.
More than a few people are skeptical: Will North Korea, which has been heightening its threat, really change its policy and abandon its nuclear program?
It was well-timed for Japan and the United States to reconfirm once again during high-level talks the necessity of continuously putting pressure on North Korea until it completely abandons its nuclear ambitions. The two countries also need to work on South Korea, which tends to take a reconciliatory stance toward Pyongyang, to keep in step with them.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit the United States as soon as in early April. Abe must have an in-depth exchange of opinions with U.S. President Donald Trump before the planned U.S.-North Korea summit.
During a recent gathering, Trump referred to a retrenchment or withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea. If Trump uses this issue offhandedly as a bargaining chip during the negotiations with North Korea, it could destabilize the regional situation. Abe must also take on the task of persuading Trump not to make any slipshod decisions.
With U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson dismissed, it will take some time before U.S. diplomatic authorities are fully prepared. Both sides must make efforts so as not to cause a split in Japan-U.S. cooperation.
Address abduction issue
Using this opportunity of movement in the North Korean situation, the issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea should be advanced. Kono asked Pence for the abduction issue to also be taken up as an agenda item during the summit talks.
Despite its promises that it would investigate matters related to the abduction, Pyongyang suspended those efforts unilaterally, and repeatedly acted dishonestly.
Japan's fundamental policy is to comprehensively solve the issues of nuclear and missile development and of the abduction of Japanese nationals. While seeking cooperation from the United States, Japan should aim at bringing the whole matter related to the abduction to light, and realizing the swift return home of the victims.
Between Japan and the United States, there is a pending problem: the measures to restrict steel and aluminum imports to the United States that Trump has decided on.
Kono once again asked U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to exempt Japan from new U.S. import restrictions on steel and aluminum.
The effective date of the new import measures, March 23, is nearing. It is problematic that the U.S. government has yet to make clear which countries or products would be exempted from the new measures. The Japanese government, for its part, should make efforts to gather relevant information and to prevent turmoil at home.
Should every country introduce countermeasures, it would bring about a protectionist, retaliatory trade war. Toward the compliance with international rules, it would also become important for Japan to deepen cooperation with the European Union and other countries.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18, 2018)
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