The U.S. Ambassador to Japan on Tuesday met the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea agents decades ago to train its spies, just a week before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to raise the emotional issue at a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The issue is a top domestic priority for Abe, whose support has been undermined by scandals over suspected cronyism and cover-ups.
But Tokyo worries it could take a back seat to nuclear and missile issues in a series of summits planned with North Korea.