TOKYO: Former Japanese Environment Minister KOIZUMI Shinjiro, who will run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election, signaled Saturday that he would not rule out the possibility of lifting sanctions on North Korea to resolve the issue of Pyongyang’s abductions of Japanese nationals.

“I will break the deadlock and meet the wishes of (abductees’) families as soon as possible,” Koizumi, 43, said on television a day after he announced his candidacy for the leadership race. “I will think about all options.”

Koizumi brushed aside concerns over his plan to relax restrictions on employee dismissals, which he pledged to do within a year. The move will “lead to positive results for small businesses and startups which are lacking workers, if labor market reforms are done thoroughly.”

Former internal affairs minister NODA Seiko, 64, said in a press conference in the central Japan city of Gifu that she is “one step away” from securing the 20 backers needed to throw her hat in the ring. Noda said she would campaign on measures aimed at addressing the country’s declining birthrate and shrinking population if she can enter the race.

JIJI Press