00:00 Amidst international unrest and domestic instability, the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
00:07 is seeking a summit with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
00:11 This comes as Kishida faces declining approval ratings due to scandals in his own ruling
00:16 party and escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula driven by the US-led push against
00:22 China.
00:23 Kishida, while addressing the national diet on 9th February, revealed that Tokyo is looking
00:29 to realise a summit with Kim Jong-un.
00:32 Indicated ongoing diplomatic efforts hinting at discussions with North Korea following
00:37 a rare message of sympathy from Kim after the January 1 Noto earthquake.
00:42 The primary objective behind Tokyo's recent pursuit of a summit is to address the issue
00:47 of North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens in the late 1970s and 1980s.
00:53 The Japanese government has officially recognised 17 abductees or suspected abductees with Pyongyang
00:59 by acknowledging some and claiming others never existed.
01:03 And so the talks between Tokyo and Pyongyang have occurred through various channels including
01:08 Beijing due to the absence of a formal diplomatic relation.
01:11 However, while Japan is keen on addressing the abduction issue, North Korea has shown
01:16 reluctance to engage on this matter.
01:20 Tokyo's engagement with Pyongyang has also raised concerns about transparency and potential
01:24 repercussions within the US-Japan and South Korea alliance.
01:28 There are also apprehensions that there is a possible return of Trump on the horizon
01:33 which is set to disrupt the regional geopolitics and trade dynamics.
01:38 Also what Japan is seeking with North Korea is something what Trump has already done back
01:42 in 2018.
01:43 If one remembers, Trump had met with Kim Jong-un to defuse the escalating US-North Korea tensions.
01:51 In addition, even North Korea seeks to establish ties with Japan as mentioned by Kim Yo Jong's
01:56 statements.
01:57 Tokyo's outreach to Pyongyang serves dual purpose, deflecting attention from domestic
02:02 scandals and rallying support for re-militarisation efforts amid rising public discontent.
02:08 Kishida's emphasis on the abduction issue resonates with the conservative faction in
02:12 Japan leveraging nationalist sentiments to bolster support amidst political uncertainty.
02:17 However, scepticism still prevails given historical precedence of failed attempts at the summit
02:22 diplomacy.
02:24 These developments underscore broader geopolitical instabilities and the erosion of traditional
02:28 alliances exacerbated by global political turbulence particularly surrounding the US
02:34 elections.
02:35 The evolving dynamics in East Asia highlights the challenges faced by Japan in navigating
02:40 regional complexities while safeguarding its strategic interests and domestic stability.
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