Japan-North Korea relations

Japan’s decades-long struggle to resolve the abduction issue faces another setback as families oppose the government’s latest strategy of opening new liaison offices.

Can Ishiba manage a new approach to a long-standing issue?

Reaching an agreement with Pyongyang is hard enough; implementing it would be even tougher.

Can the leaders of the two countries part ways with their respective predecessors?

Unless Japan can truly offer progress on Pyongyang’s vital concerns, a bilateral summit is unlikely to materialize.

Japan acknowledged it has been trying to arrange a bilateral summit but dismissed North Korea’s preconditions for such a meeting as unacceptable.

What does the North Korean leadership have in mind?

Amid the stalled nuclear talks between the U.S. and North Korea, Japan seeks to hold a summit meeting with North Korea.

A new policy direction seems to be emerging.

The mother of Yokota Megumi, the most famous of the Japanese civilians abducted by North Korea, continues to push for her daughter's return.

Vietnamese diplomacy offers some useful reminders for key actors in a troubled region.

Tokyo has been left puzzled by some recent moves from Pyongyang.

After Tokyo announced its new security strategy, Pyongyang threatened to take a “decisive military step” in response. 

The former prime minister’s all-or-nothing approach may have stymied progress on the unresolved North Korean abductions of Japanese nationals.

Pyongyang is dismissive of Tokyo, but the latter still has an important card to play.

At a time of stalemate, the Suga administration seems unwilling to take the initiative.

The particulars of the language used to describe rivals are important to understanding Japan’s threat assessments and policy goals.

The Korean Central News Agency, in a commentary, accused the Japanese broadcaster of an “ulterior motive.”

Is North Korea warning Japan of launches to come?

The Japanese government has limited options for dealing with its bellicose neighbor.

Shinzo Abe now says he would meet with Kim Jong Un without any preconditions – a change from Tokyo’s previous position.

Abe’s hasty pursuit of a legacy makes Japanese foreign policy look unprincipled and weak.

Tokyo appears to be giving itself more room to negotiate on longstanding issues.

By stepping back from an annual UN resolution on North Korean human rights, Tokyo is sending a signal to Pyongyang.