Abe Signals Intent to Skip Pyeongchang Olympics (News)

Sofia, Jan. 15 (Jiji Press)—Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzō on Monday signaled he does not plan to attend the Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea next month, citing budget deliberations at an upcoming session of the Diet, Japan's parliament.

"I'll consider it, while looking at the schedule of the Diet," which will start an ordinary session later this month, Abe told reporters in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, during an overseas tour. He stressed the need to get the government's fiscal 2018 budget bill enacted as soon as possible.

The Japanese leader is believed to have already made up his mind to skip the Winter Olympics' opening ceremony.

Abe criticized South Korean President Moon Jae-in's administration for urging Japan to make further efforts on the issue of Korean "comfort women," who were forced to serve Japanese soldiers sexually before and during World War II, after his predecessor's administration agreed with Japan to "finally and irreversibly" resolve the issue in December 2015.

"It's an international and universal principle to abide by agreements between countries even after changes of government," Abe stressed. "We believe the issue has been finally resolved."