Published on July 15, 2019.
Through the Japan–North Korea Parliamentary League, statements by Representative Etō Seishirō, and debate over the abduction issue and normalization of Japan–North Korea relations, this article records the argument that the abduction issue cannot be resolved without pressure on North Korea. It critically examines the attitude of politicians who argued that the abductions could be settled after normalization, and the tone of anti-Abe media such as The Asahi Shimbun.

July 15, 2019.
I remember that in 2011, at a meeting within the Liberal Democratic Party, I directly argued against Representative Etō, saying that North Korea cannot be moved without pressure.
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Politicians who gathered around the idea of “putting the abductions later.”
In 2011, the Japan–North Korea Parliamentary League planned a visit to North Korea through the mediation of Chongryon, but it was forced to abandon the plan because of strong protests from within the Liberal Democratic Party and opposition from the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea and the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea.
At that time, Representative Etō Seishirō openly stated as follows that the abduction issue could be resolved after the normalization of diplomatic relations, according to The Sankei Shimbun on November 27, 2011.
“The basic position of the Japan–North Korea Parliamentary League is to create a table for the normalization of diplomatic relations, and after normalization, place issues such as abductions, missiles, and nuclear weapons on that table, and make efforts to resolve them one by one.”
“What should we think of the idea that we must not step into the normalization of diplomatic relations without a complete resolution of the abduction issue? The abduction issue would be resolved more quickly by normalizing diplomatic relations and placing it on the official table.”
“If diplomatic relations are normalized, the Japanese government could also file a case concerning the abduction issue with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. It cannot do so now because there are no diplomatic relations.”
“The nonpartisan parliamentary league on the abductions takes the position that the abduction issue cannot be resolved unless North Korea is isolated, but I cannot understand how they intend to resolve the abduction issue. The abduction issue would be resolved more quickly by normalizing diplomatic relations.”
I remember that in 2011, at a meeting within the Liberal Democratic Party, I directly argued against Representative Etō, saying that North Korea cannot be moved without pressure.
As one might expect, Representative Etō and others no longer openly present their theory that the abductions should be resolved after normalization of diplomatic relations.
They now argue that a Japan–North Korea summit meeting should be realized as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Abe is cautious about rushing forward, saying that he will hold a summit meeting only when there is a prospect that it will lead to the resolution of the abduction issue, but Etō and others, in step with North Korean media and anti-Abe media in Japan such as Asahi, say that only Japan is being left out in the cold, and that if things continue like this Japan will be left behind.
This article continues.