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Two decades have passed since former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s historic 2002 visit to North Korea, the first ever by a Japanese leader. At the time, it raised hopes that an important landmark would be reached in Japan’s efforts to deal with legacies stemming from its wartime past.
Sept. 17 marked the 20th anniversary of a landmark summit meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il that for a brief moment raised hopes the thorny issue of Pyongyang’s abductions of Japanese nationals would be resolved once and for all.
No signs have emerged that Japan can resolve the long-standing issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals, although Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of a landmark agreement between the two Asian countries.
North Korea has criticized Japan for actions it says nullifies the historic 2002 Pyongyang Declaration, under which the two countries agreed to make efforts toward normalizing ties, state-run media said Friday ahead of the 20th anniversary of the accord's signing.
Japan under then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe rejected a North Korean proposal to return two Japanese men, including a victim of abductions by Pyongyang, in around 2014 and 2015.