Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "First Inclusion of 'Abductee Issue' in Joint Statement by South Korea, US, and Japan Leaders"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is seen conversing with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a Korea-U.S.-Japan summit held at a hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the 13th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 17th that the mention of abductees in the recent joint statement by the leaders of South Korea, the United States, and Japan was indeed reflected for the first time.

At a regular briefing that day, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim said in response to a question about whether the abductee issue was raised for the first time at the summit, "Our government has been strengthening cooperation with the international community to promote North Korean human rights under the basic stance that human rights, as universal values of humanity, must be respected." Lim added, "The obligation to protect one’s own citizens is the most important duty of a state," and said, "The government will continue its efforts so that our citizens detained in North Korea can return to their families as soon as possible."

On the 13th, President Yoon Suk-yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a trilateral summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and adopted a joint statement. The statement included, "The three leaders reaffirm their joint will for the immediate resolution of the abductee issue," and "Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden also expressed support for the immediate release of South Korean nationals detained in North Korea."

In this regard, the Ministry of Unification stated that the "resolution of the abductee issue" mentioned in the joint statement includes the issue of South Korean abductees. The Ministry of Unification said, "The government will continue efforts to resolve the abductee issue through inter-Korean relations as well as through cooperation with the international community to address humanitarian issues such as the abductee problem."