TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe boarded a government jet in Tokyo on Thursday morning to leave for the Group of Seven leaders' summit, to be held later this week in Taormina, Italy.
Before departing, Abe told reporters at Haneda Airport that he wants the G-7 leaders to share a clear understanding of the major threat posed by North Korea. He also said he hopes to lead talks on the matter to ensure the leaders take a firm stance on Pyongyang.
Abe will begin discussions with his G-7 counterparts after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday morning.
The prime minister told reporters he wants to use the summit as a platform for underscoring the strong bond among G-7 countries. Referring to the terror attack in Manchester, U.K., on Monday, Abe said such attacks will not weaken that bond, and that he wants the G-7 governments to make clear their determination not to be intimidated by terrorism.
After the summit ends on Saturday afternoon, Abe will visit the Mediterranean island country of Malta before flying back to Japan later that day.
(Nikkei)
