Opinion | Sidelined on North Korea, Japan needs all of Shinzo Abe’s diplomatic skill to get back into the game

Foremost is the issue of Japanese nationals who have been abducted by North Korea. Tokyo says 17 of its citizens have been taken. While five were repatriated in 2002, North Korea says the issue has been “resolved” and that eight have died, while four never entered North Korea.

Second, North Korea possesses hundreds of short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, which put all of Japan in its crosshairs. While the joint statement issued after the Singapore summit notes that “Chairman Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula”, there is no timeline for this process. There are many in Japan who worry that the US may only be interested in ensuring North Korea gets rid of its intercontinental ballistic missiles which can target the US, and not the shorter-range missiles Japan is worried about.

Last year, two North Korean missiles flew over Japan, sending officials into a spin. Japan even conducted evacuation drills simulating a North Korean missile attack. In addition, some of the North Korean missiles have landed in the sea surrounding Japan, within its exclusive economic zone.