The Yomiuri Shimbun

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed the decision to hold talks between U.S.
President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore,
while expressing his expectation for progress on the issue of Japanese citizens
abducted by North Korea and other issues.

�gI welcome the official selection of a date and location for the summit,�h Abe
told reporters in Sapporo. �gI strongly expect the historic U.S.-North Korea summit
to be an opportunity for moving forward on the nuclear and missile issue as well as
on the abduction issue, which is of the greatest importance.�h

�gFurther preparations will be made going forward. I would like to convey Japan�fs
views to the U.S. government and work on preparations together with the United
States,�h Abe added.

Foreign Minister Taro Kono said at the House of Representatives Foreign Committee
on Friday morning, �gThe international community has the position of calling for
the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of weapons of mass
destruction, such as nuclear arms, and ballistic missiles.�h

�gI hope that President Trump will firmly negotiate with North Korea on behalf of
the international community,�h Kono added, expressing his expectation that progress
will be made on the nuclear and missile issue at the anticipated summit.

The government has a positive view on holding the summit talks in Singapore because
of its neutrality, according to diplomatic sources. �gPrior to the official
announcement, the U.S. side informed the Japanese government of the date of the
summit,�h a government source said.

Abe hopes to hold a meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven
summit to be held on June 8 and 9 in Charlevoix, Canada, just before the U.S.-North
Korea conference.

At the meeting with Trump, the prime minister intends to reach a common
understanding with the U.S. president on how to handle the nuclear and missile
issue and again request that he raise the abduction issue. �gThis will be the best
time for coordinating opinions between Japan and the United States before the U.S.-
North Korea summit,�h a senior Foreign Ministry official said.