A ranking member of Japan’s ruling party says the party is willing to reschedule the parliament’s proceedings to allow Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to attend the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. 

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters Tuesday that the Olympics and the Diet are very important “political tasks” and the party wants to try to readjust the Diet's schedule so both can be realized. 

Nikai said he's aware of the tension between South Korea and Japan regarding their 2015 agreement on Japan’s wartime sexual slavery, but added the PyeongChang Games is also an important matter that requires a proper response. 

Asked about Nikai’s remarks during a regular media briefing Tuesday, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the Japanese government will decide on Abe’s participation based on the schedule of the Diet, echoing a similar remark by Abe during his visit to Bulgaria on Monday.