North Korea said Wednesday that the issue of its abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s has been "completely resolved," while making the first reference to Japan's government led by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Suga, who became prime minster Sept. 16, has "clung to" the abduction issue, like his predecessor Shinzo Abe, a researcher at the North Korean Foreign Ministry said on its website.
"The abduction issue has been completely resolved by our sincerity and efforts," the researcher said. It was the first time for North Korea to use the word "completely" about the matter.