Problem
In 2008, Japan tried to re-establish diplomatic relations with North Korea. Diplomatic relations had not existed between the two countries since the Korean Peninsula. Japan promised to provide North Korea with economic and financial instruments to boost its economy while North Korea agreed to investigate the case of the abduction of Japanese citizens by the North Korean government in the 1970s and 1980s (Smith, 2013). Japan also made a commitment that in the event that North Korea fulfilled its part of the negotiated promises, it was going to lift economic sanctions that were imposed in 2006. Despite sitting at ...