Nikishida: "Unaware of Kim Yo-jong's Statement Report... Dialogue with North Korea is Important"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the 25th distanced himself from the statement by North Korean Workers' Party Vice Chair Kim Yo-jong that Japan had proposed a summit, saying he was unaware of the related reports. However, he also emphasized the importance of dialogue with North Korea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and others, Prime Minister Kishida responded to related questions at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on the same day by saying, "I am not aware of the reports you mentioned." He added, "A summit is important to resolve various issues such as Japan-North Korea relations and the abduction issue," and said, "We are taking various measures toward North Korea at the prime ministerial level."

Earlier, Vice Chair Kim, in a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency on the same day, said, "Recently, Prime Minister Kishida conveyed to us through another channel his intention to meet directly with the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at an early date." She added, "As I have said before, what is important in opening a new path for improving Japan-North Korea relations is Japan's practical political determination," and warned, "If Japan remains stubbornly focused on the abduction issue, the prime minister's plan will inevitably be regarded as nothing more than a popularity-seeking move."