'포스트 아베' 유력한 스가 관방 "아베 정권 확실히 계승"... "北 김위원장과 조건 없이 만나기 희망"
Following Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision to step down due to his ill health,... his long-time close aide, Tokyo's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says he will run for the post.
Kim Hyo-sun has the developments.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, has officially launched his bid to become the country's next prime minister,... succeeding Shinzo Abe.
He's a long-time aide of Abe's, who announced last week that he will resign, citing poor health.
Suga explained during a press briefing Wednesday that he was entering the leadership contest to prevent a political vacuum during a time of crisis, as the country continues to grapple the pandemic.
"I thought deeply as a politician and as somebody who supported the Abe administration what I should do. As a result, I made the decision to stand as a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party."
He told reporters that he will push forward 'Abe-nomics' stimulus policies,... stressing he will continue the same kind of relationship Abe had with the country's central bank.
While Suga did not touch upon Seoul-Tokyo relations during the 50 minute-long press conference,... he expressed a willingness to sit down with the leader of North Korea unconditionally.
"As the Chief Cabinet Secretary, I have been working with the Prime Minister Abe on North Korea's abduction issue. So I believe in order to resolve the abduction issue, I would like to meet Chairman Kim Jong Un without conditions and find a way for a solution."
Suga also stressed the importance of the bilateral relationship between Tokyo and Washington,... explaining that the alliance is the foundation to building relationships with other neighboring countries.
The Liberal Democratic Party has decided to hold a scaled-back leadership vote on September 14th,... involving only its legislators and three representatives from each of the country's 47 prefectures.
Local media say this will advantage Suga, who is backed by five of the party's seven factions.
A parliamentary vote is likely to follow on September 16th.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.