Eunmi Choi, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, emphasizes the Japanese public's focus on the abduction issue and suggests this could be a desirable chance for Prime Minister Kishida to significantly boost his low approval ratings. Crediting Japan's diplomatic accomplishment in securing President Biden's support for Japan-DPRK dialogue to its persistent emphasis on the abduction issue, Choi points out that initiating bilateral talks could further enhance Japan's role in the U.S.-DPRK relations. Choi highlights that this could potentially marginalize the ROK in Korean Peninsula affairs and urges South Korea to bolster its cooperation with Japan and the U.S. to effectively address North Korea and avoid being sidelined.

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