Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is concerned about missile launches from Pyongyang that have become more frequent in the past year but is still willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in person without preconditions.
"The unprecedented frequency and the nature of the ballistic missile launches by North Korea are absolutely unacceptable," Kishida said during a policy speech at a plenary session of the parliament’s lower house on Monday.
"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."
The abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean intelligence is one of the most sensitive issues in relations between the two countries, which do not have formal diplomatic relations.
In 2002, Pyongyang, for the first time, acknowledged the fact that 13 Japanese citizens had been kidnapped but only five of them were allowed to return home. The rest were declared dead and their remains were sent to their relatives, but their authenticity could not be verified.
In May 2014, the governments of Japan and North Korea agreed to a new investigation into the abductions of Japanese citizens, but the commission responsible for this was later dismissed at Pyongyang's initiative.
Last year, North Korea launched a record number of missiles. In all, 37 ballistic and cruise missile launches were carried out, often with multiple missiles fired simultaneously. Overall, more than 70 missiles were launched.
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