Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has expressed willingness to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to break the impasse over Pyongyang’s abductions of Japanese citizens.

In her first meeting with the victims’ families of the abductees since taking office, Takaichi stressed that she “won’t miss any opportunity” to ensure the early return of the abductees.

Takaichi further noted she aims to find a “breakthrough” on the abduction issue, expressing her intent to engage with Kim through a summit meeting. She expressed her apologies over the lack of progress since the return of five abductees in