Japanese govt’s special adviser to the cabinet visits North Korea; Two Japanese maritime SDF vessels are to make port call in Myanmar; The LDP insists on strengthening the role of the Japanese SDF
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    • According to reports, Isao Ijima, a special adviser to the Japanese Cabinet, made a four-day long trip to North Korea. He returned home on May 18. During his visit, Ijima met with several key North Korean officials. He reportedly urged Pyongyang to conduct full investigation of the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents a few decades ago and hand over the suspects. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in the meantime, has expressed strong determination to resolve the abduction issue with the North during his current tenure. 1

    In another development, according to reports, two of Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (MSDF) training vessels, namely Kashima and Shirayuki, along with an escort destroyer, as part of their round-the-world voyage, are to make a port call in Myanmar soon. Around 700 MSDF members, including about 180 cadets will be aboard the three vessels. This will be the first port call by an MSDF vessel to Myanmar. It is intended to enhance Japan’s presence in the Southeast Asia region and to curb the maritime ambitions of the Chinese there. 2

    In other developments, according to reports, Japanese ruling party-the LDP, in its recent draft for a ten-year defense outline, has called for a greater role to be played by the Japanese Self Defense Force (SDF) in protecting Japan and fulfilling the nation’s responsibility as a security ally of the US. The party’s Defense and Security Committee, in fact, suggests that the SDF should have more capabilities similar to the US Marine Corps, introduce more amphibious vehicles and should be equipped with the controversial Osprey transport aircraft. 3

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