Japan is considering the resumption of bilateral talks with North Korea in hopes of making progress on the abduction issue following a recent trip to Pyongyang by one of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's top advisers, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday.
"We are exploring every possibility (to solve the issue)," Suga told a news conference, including resuming the talks would be an option.
Suga's comment followed the recent visit to Pyongyang by Isao Iijima, an adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Iijima met with senior North Korean officials during the trip, explaining to them Abe's determination to address the abductions, according to Japanese officials.