Japan's PM Abe nominated Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize: report
18 Feb 2019
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize last autumn after receiving a request from the US government to do so, the Asahi newspaper reported on Sunday.
During a White House news conference in Friday, Trump claimed that Abe had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize for opening talks and easing tensions with North Korea. Trump also said the Japanese leader had given him “the most beautiful copy” of a five-page nomination letter.
The US request to Abe for the Noble Peace Prize nomination followed Trump’s Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last year - the first meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting US president – the report says citing unnamed Japanese government sources.
Japan’s foreign ministry spokesman also reported to have said the ministry was aware of Trump’s remarks, but “would refrain from commenting on the interaction between the two leaders.”
This could not, however, be verified from the Nobel peace Prize Committee as the committee keeps nominations secret.
Nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize may be submitted by any person who meets the nomination criteria, including current heads of states, under the foundation’s rules. The Foundation is obliged to keep information about unsuccessful nominations undisclosed for 50 years.