Abe Seeks Indonesia`s Involvement in Approaching North Korea

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla (L) meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe .

Tokyo, 11 Ramadan 1438/6 June 2017 (MINA) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked Indonesia to be more involved and attentive in approaching North Korea and convincing them to stop carrying out provocative actions by testing nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula.

“Since we have a diplomatic relation with North Korea and the services are free to come into Indonesia, Japan is seeking special attention on that,” Vice President Jusuf Kalla was quoted by Anatara News as saying after a bilateral meeting with Abe at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo, Japan, on Monday.

Abe believed that Indonesias close relationship with North Korea can be used to approach the country, which is under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, in an effort to stop the nuclear weapon tests, Kalla added.

“The consequence of those who have always been associated with nuclear weapons is considered dangerous and threatening to other countries. Hence, we are asked to pay more attention,” he added.

Besides that, Indonesias position, which is also in close proximity with South Korea, is seen as an added value that can be beneficial for mediating the two elderly North-South brothers, who have not been peaceful until now.

The bilateral meeting between Kalla and Abe also touched on the economic cooperation between the two countries, including boosting the infrastructure investment materialization in Indonesia, commitment to increase manufacture investments, and to increase the number of Indonesian workers who are recruited in Japan.

During his working visit to Japan, Kalla was accompanied by Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Arifin Tasrif, former Minister of Trade and Ambassador of Indonesia to Japan Muhammad Lutfi, Head of the Vice Presidential Secretariat Mohammad Oemar, Head of the Vice Presidents Expert Staff Sofyan Wanandi, and Rahmat Gobel. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)