TOKYO, January 23. /TASS/. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is concerned over North Korea’s missile launches which became more frequent last year but is still ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in person without preliminary conditions.
"The unprecedented frequency and the nature of the ballistic missile launches by North Korea are absolutely unacceptable. The most important of all issues for us are the abductions of people which is a serious humanitarian problem. We will use all capabilities to ensure the speediest return home of all those abducted. I am filled with resolve to meet with Chairman Kim Jong-un directly, without setting forth any conditions," he said during a policy speech at a plenary session of the parliament’s lower house on Monday.
The abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korean intelligence is one of the most sensitive issues in relations between the two countries that do not maintain official diplomatic ties. In 2002, Pyongyang, for the first time, recognized the fact that 13 Japanese citizens were kidnapped but just five of them were allowed to return home. The rest were declared deceased and their remnants were sent to their relatives but could not be verified. In May 2014, the governments of Japan and North Korea agreed to conduct a new investigation into the abductions of the Japanese citizens but the commission in charge of it was later dismissed at Pyongyang’s initiative.
Last year, North Korea launched a record-setting number of missiles. In all, 37 launches of ballistic and cruise missiles were performed, frequently with several missiles launched at once. Overall, more than 70 missiles were fired.