North Korea's Kim Yo-jong on Kishida's Pyongyang Visit Mention Statement... Japan Says "Will Not Evaluate"

North Korea's Kim Yo-jong "Possibility of Prime Minister Kishida Visiting Pyongyang"
Japan's Hayashi "Will Refrain from Comments to Avoid Affecting Future Negotiations"
Differences Remain Between North Korea and Japan on Abduction Issue

The Japanese government gave a cautious response to Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, mentioning the possibility of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visiting Pyongyang, stating that it is "being cautious but will not evaluate" the matter.

Japanese government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi, Chief Cabinet Secretary, made this remark during a regular press conference on the morning of the 16th in response to questions about Kim Yo-jong's statement regarding a North Korea-Japan summit.

Earlier, Kim Yo-jong released a statement saying that North Korea's abduction issue of Japanese citizens is an "already resolved matter," and if Japan does not raise this issue, there may come a day when Prime Minister Kishida "could visit Pyongyang." However, Kim Yo-jong clarified that this remark was "a personal opinion" and not the official position of North Korea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Minister Hayashi said, "Prime Minister Kishida has stated that he will conduct high-level consultations directly under the Prime Minister to realize a summit with Chairman Kim Jong-un to resolve various issues with North Korea," adding, "Efforts have been made through various channels for this purpose."

However, he added, "Regarding the detailed content, including the evaluation of Kim Yo-jong's statement, I will refrain from commenting as it may affect future negotiations."

When asked about "what North Korea's intention is in issuing such a statement," he replied, "I am not in a position to comment on North Korea's intentions and purposes, so I will refrain from commenting."

However, regarding Kim Yo-jong's statement that "the abduction issue has already been resolved," he said, "This is completely unacceptable," and added, "Japan remains committed to comprehensively resolving issues such as abductions, nuclear, and missile problems based on the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration."

Then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited North Korea on September 17, 2002, and after meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-il, announced the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration. The declaration included four points: promoting normalization of diplomatic relations, compensation based on reflection on past history, prevention of recurrence of regrettable issues (such as abductions), and building cooperative relations to resolve nuclear and missile issues.

Prime Minister Kishida has repeatedly stated his intention to promote a North Korea-Japan summit with Chairman Kim Jong-un to resolve the abduction issue of Japanese citizens by North Korea.