Japan to stick to dialogue and pressure on N Korea: Abe

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday Japan will stick to its policy of "dialogue and pressure" to resolve the North Korean nuclear and abduction issues, dismissing concerns that a visit by the top U.S. nuclear negotiator to North Korea the same day may jeopardize Tokyo's efforts. "North Korea has yet to carry out its initial denuclearization steps and it is important that these measures are first fulfilled," Abe told reporters.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill headed to North Korea from Japan on Thursday morning in a bid to move forward the stalled six-party talks on defusing the nuclear standoff with the country. Downplaying speculation that Japan would become further sidelined in the six-nation nuclear talks as a result of the U.S.-North Korea bilateral contact, Abe stressed that Washington "is well aware" of Tokyo's stance to press Pyongyang to resolve the issue of its past abductions of Japanese and other nationals.