"Ishiba Considers Establishing a North Korea-Japan Liaison Office Despite Opposition to Abducted Families"

New Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reportedly expressed his intention to consider establishing a liaison office linking Tokyo and Pyongyang to solve the problem, despite opposition from the family gathering of Japanese abductees.

The Sankei Shimbun reported that Prime Minister Ishiba called a family meeting of abductees on the day after his inauguration, and the family meeting expressed opposition to the opening of a liaison office between North Korea and Japan.

However, Ishiba said he sought understanding after explaining that he would push for the establishment of a liaison office.

The newspaper explained that the family gathering of abductees opposes the opening of the meeting, fearing that information favorable to North Korea will be circulated if a liaison office is created.

Earlier, Ishiba said in a media interview before last month's election to head the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that the establishment of a liaison office could be prioritized over holding a North Korea-Japan summit on resolving the abduction issue.