Jun 12 (NHK) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is the first step toward resolving various issues concerning the North.
Abe told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday that he wants to express his deep respect for Trump's leadership and efforts to make the summit happen.
He said the statement signed at the summit confirms Kim's commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
The prime minister said he highly appreciates that Trump raised the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese citizens in the summit talks.
He added he wants to speak with Trump by phone to hear the details of the abductions issue.
Abe also said that Japan and the United States will work with the rest of the international community to resolve North Korean issues.