Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe flew for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin with a package of concrete proposals. This time, the focus is on the North Korean nuclear missile program, the reaction to the development of which is different for Moscow and Tokyo. But the Japanese side has a subject for bargaining.

The crisis on the Korean peninsula is gaining momentum. In response to the missile and nuclear tests of the DPRK, the United States of America and Japan strengthened armed groups in the region. Washington in different voices repeats warnings about the readiness to launch a preemptive strike if it sees a threat to the security of its citizens or allies. Tokyo is not threatened with threats, but there is also a serious discussion of options for action in the case of new launches of missiles in the direction of Japanese territory or new nuclear weapons tests.

Moscow, while condemning the military trials of Pyongyang, nevertheless considers the reaction of Washington and Tokyo an unnecessarily aggressive and disproportionate threat. On the eve of the Moscow conference on international security, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that a military solution to the DPRK problem is fraught with a global catastrophe. At the same time, Moscow emphasizes that US actions in the region, including the deployment of US THAAD complexes in South Korea, are a dangerous provocation.

Meanwhile, the DPRK, ignoring the UN Security Council resolutions and the peaceful appeals of the international community, also puts itself at a disadvantage. It is clear that Russia will not be able to stand up for the Republic while it continues to develop a non-peaceful atom. This is ready to take advantage of Japan. Speaking in April in parliament, Shinzo Abe partially revealed the cards: he said that he intends to invite Russia to take a more active role in resolving the Korean crisis. If the proposal is made publicly, it will be unconditional. And assuming such responsibilities, Moscow will lose the ability to keep the eyes covered.

In addition, in order to make the proposal attractive, the Japanese prime minister has on hand a number of "goodies", dealing with already purely Russian-Japanese relations, namely: joint economic projects. In December 2016 g. During Putin's visit to Japan, the parties agreed to develop trade and economic cooperation. Approximately 80 possible projects were named, where Russia provides raw materials and territory for production, and Japan - investments and technologies. While most projects remain at the initiative level. However, it is clear that constructive negotiations on international issues will contribute to an accelerated solution of bilateral economic issues.

Certainly, during Abe's visit, the problem of signing a peace treaty between the countries. Moreover, before flying back to Moscow, he expressed the hope that he would be able to obtain from the Russian side the consent for free visits by Japanese citizens to the graves of his ancestors in the Kuril Islands. However, as for the territorial dispute, then Moscow and Tokyo are tough on their positions and are not going to yield. North Korea is a completely different matter.