Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at a news conference at his official residence in Tokyo, Japan, August 3, 2016. Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Business Insider/Reuters: Japan has reportedly reached out to North Korea for a summit meeting
* Japan has reportedly reached out to North Korea for a summit meeting.
* Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is believed to have wanted to discuss the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents decades ago.
* North Korea hopes to get $20 billion to $50 billion in aid from Japan if it normalizes relations, according to one report.
Japan has sounded out the North Korean government about a bilateral summit, and Pyongyang has discussed the possibility of a leaders' meeting with Japan, Japan's Asahi newspaper said on Thursday.
The government of Kim Jong Un has informed leaders of North Korea's ruling Korean Workers Party of the possibility of a summit with Japan, the newspaper said, citing an unidentified North Korean source and briefing papers.
"The Japanese government has expressed a wish to host a leaders meeting, via the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan," or Chongryong, Pyongyang's de facto embassy in Japan, the Asahi quoted the briefing papers as saying.
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WNU Editor: If such a summit should occur, it will be in June .... N. Korea's elite told a summit with Japan could come in June (Asahi Shimbun). As for a Trump-Abe meeting, early indications that it will be in Florida on April 18 .... Japan PM Abe likely to visit US for talks with Trump on April 17-19 (The Mainichi). More here .... Abe likely to meet Trump on April 18 in Florida: source (Asia Times).
More News On Reports That Japan Wants A Summit With North Korea
Trump-Kim meeting may leave out Japan. Shinzo Abe is taking action -- CNBC
After Kim-Xi meeting, Abe eager to advance Japan's interests -- Deutsche Welle
Japan Opens Talks With North Korea -- Wall Street Journal
Japan-North Korea summit may be held in June — newspaper -- TASS
