Kishida: "Realizing a relationship that produces results between Japan and North Korea is a convergence of mutual benefits"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated on the 28th that "realizing a relationship that produces results between Japan and North Korea aligns with the mutual interests of both sides," expressing his intention to continue efforts to promote a summit meeting.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At a press conference held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo on the same day, Prime Minister Kishida responded to a statement by Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, who refused contact with Japan for a Japan-North Korea summit, saying that his view that the summit "will greatly contribute to peace and stability in the region remains unchanged."

When asked whether the Japan-North Korea summit promoted by the Japanese government is "to bring abductees back all at once or to open a channel for negotiations," he replied, "This is an issue involving the other party," and added, "I want to continue high-level responses directly under the Prime Minister to realize the basic policy of resolving various Japanese issues."

He also added, "I will make efforts to resolve various issues, including the abduction issue."