Japanese PM to visit US from April 17

TOKYO, Apr 02 (Agencies): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to visit the United States April 17-20 for talks with President Donald Trump, he said on Monday.

Abe said he would ask Trump to bring up the issue of past North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens, during the US president's expected summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Abe said Monday he will hold two days of talks with Trump at the president's Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida to discuss North Korea and bilateral issues. Trump is expected to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by the end of May.

Abe has said he wants to remind Trump of shorter-range missiles and other North Korean security threats for Japan, and seek US help on the issue of Japanese abducted by North Korea. Abe is also expected to discuss new US tariffs. Abe last visited Trump's resort in February 2017.