Japan's House of Representatives election is just a few days away, and Takahashi is planning to go out at this critical moment, with a destination that no one could have expected. Is this a real plan or just a trick? What exactly is Takahashi up to?

Takahashi said that she shook hands too many times, causing her fingers to swell.

The Japanese House of Representatives election has entered its final sprint stage, and it is now the crucial time for candidates to campaign on the streets and for parties to attack each other. However, Japan suddenly released a major news story, stating that Prime Minister Sanae Takeda would abandon her position in the election and plan to visit North Korea before the voting day, and even hold talks with the North Korean leader.

Although many people doubt the authenticity of this news, a relevant source said that "an internal message from North Korea" indicates that Pyongyang is willing to engage in dialogue with Tokyo in exchange for "immediate large-scale humanitarian aid," including food, medicine, and fertilizers.

The online news not only includes the time and agenda but also depicts the core demand of "prioritizing the resolution of the issue of Japanese abductions" in great detail, instantly triggering public opinion in Japan and attention in East Asia. However, Japan and North Korea have long been in a state of diplomatic rupture with deep hostility, and normal diplomatic contact is extremely rare, let alone a "sudden visit by a prime minister before the election."

Members of the Restoration Party

Moreover, several months ago, Takahashi had already expressed her desire to meet with Kim Jong-un, but North Korea had not responded. Just two weeks ago, the North Korean representative to the United Nations expressed a firm opposition to Japan's bid for permanent membership in the UN Security Council. In addition, Takahashi has always taken a hard line against North Korea and promoted military expansion and constitutional reform. From all perspectives, a meeting between the two seems "impossible."

However, Japanese media spoke as if they were certain, making it difficult to draw a conclusion. Currently, the ruling coalition led by Takahashi's Liberal Democratic Party and its ally the Restoration Party is performing well in the polls, possibly even surpassing the absolute majority threshold of two-thirds. Under such seemingly favorable circumstances, releasing a high-risk and high-reward message like a "sudden visit to North Korea" must have a deeper meaning.

Kim Jong-un

In last week's TV debate, Takahashi referred to North Korea as one of the "nuclear states" along with China and Russia, directly breaking through the Japanese government's long-standing official stance of not recognizing North Korea's nuclear status. This seemingly technical wording shift is an explicit signal of Takahashi's shift in foreign policy strategy.

The recent media release about the visit to North Korea clearly highlights the core issue of "resolving the abduction issue," precisely targeting the emotional soft spot of the Japanese people. Takahashi's team deliberately created the image of "facing threats and daring to break the diplomatic stalemate to risk visiting North Korea," packaging a political performance into a righteous act of "petitioning for the people's safety."

Takahashi and Lee Jae-myung

Her goal is clear: to create an image of a tough leader who dares to face threats and break through, to gain support from conservative and right-wing voters. If the "sudden visit" actually happens, it would be a "stroke of genius" for Takahashi's diplomacy. More importantly, the visit doesn't need to actually take place; as long as the "news is released," the goal will be achieved.

It is worth noting that whether Takahashi's diplomatic gamble succeeds depends largely on the U.S. attitude. There are reports that Takahashi hopes to visit the U.S. in mid-March to meet with Trump. If North Korea and Russia increase military pressure on Japan, Takahashi will inevitably be in a weaker position when negotiating with the Trump administration.

This dilemma also explains why Takahashi released the news of a "sudden visit to North Korea" before the election — trying to increase the leverage for negotiations with the U.S. by showcasing her "diplomatic initiative." In short, regardless of whether this "sudden visit" actually happens, the main objective has already been achieved halfway.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7603266920854372879/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.