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Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he plans to attend the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, defying expectations in Japan and South Korea he would pass up the opportunity because of friction over a 2015 "comfort women" agreement. "If circumstances allow, I am thinking of attending the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Olympics," Abe said, according to The Japan Times on Wednesday.
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The Japanese prime minister said he hopes to secure a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and stand firm on Tokyo's commitment to the pact, signed by Abe and his then-counterpart Park Geun-hye.
Moon, a progressive leader who has slammed the agreement as unfair to women forced to serve in Japanese wartime brothels, could disagree with Abe if they meet next month.
It is not clear why Abe decided to attend the Winter Games.
Tokyo's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Abe was not influenced by a U.S. decision to send a delegation that includes Vice President Mike Pence.
South Korean news service Financial News reported Wednesday Abe may have reversed a decision that was leaning toward non-attendance, in favor of attending, because of pending decisions from world leaders.
Chinese President Xi Jinping could be close to a decision to attend the Olympics, and Russian President Vladimir Putin could make an appearance to show support for the Russian team, according to the report.
Closer coordination on North Korea in South Korea, with countries like China and the United States through presidential phone lines that did not include Japan, may have also played a role.
A South Korean presidential Blue House official confirmed Moon and Abe will hold a summit, and administrators are deciding on an appropriate venue.
South Korean newspaper Hankyoreh reported while the comfort women dispute is ongoing, Seoul seeks to build a "future-oriented" relationship with Japan.
Both Seoul and Tokyo have demanded North Korea denuclearization as a precondition for talks.
