North Korea says Japanese Prime Minister wants to meet Kim Jong-un in person

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a tank division on Thursday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday. Yonhap News Agency

Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said on March 25 that Japan had conveyed its intention to hold a summit meeting with North Korea. This comes 40 days after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida mentioned his visit to Pyongyang on February 15. Kishida said, "Nothing has been decided now," but added, "A summit is important to resolve all pending issues with North Korea."

In a statement released by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo-jong said, "Recently, the Japanese Prime Minister has also conveyed his intention to meet his North Korean counterpart in person as early as possible through another channel.”

On February 9, Kishida said “We are engaged in various activities" regarding the promotion of the Japan-North Korea summit,” and six days later, Kim said, "The two countries can open a new future together. There may come a day when Prime Minister Kishida will visit Pyongyang."

In the statement, Kim said, "What is important in opening a new path for the improvement of relations between Japan and North Korea is Japan's actual political determination," adding, "Simply having the mindset to engage in a summit talk is not enough to resolve the mistrust and misunderstanding between the two countries."

She also said, "If Japan tries to interfere in the exercise of our sovereign rights as it is doing now, and is obsessed with the Japanese abduction issue where there is nothing to resolve or to understand, Kishida’s effort to hold a summit will inevitably be labeled as a political gimmick to create a sensation.” "Exercise of sovereign rights" refers to North Korea's test-firing of ballistic missiles.

This is interpreted that Japan should not discuss North Korea's missile development or Japanese abductees as a prerequisite for the Japan-North Korea summit.

Kim mentioned "political courage to make strategic choices," "a fair and equal attitude," and "respect for North Korea's sovereign rights and security interests" as measures to improve bilateral relations.

Regarding Kim’s statement, Kishida told reporters, "I know about the statement. I think a summit plays a critical role in resolving all pending issues with North Korea.” When asked about the possibility of a Japan-North Korea summit, he said, "It's a thing that can be decided by both parties. Nothing has been decided at the moment." Earlier in the day, Kishida said he “doesn’t know" when asked about it at the House of Councillors Budget Committee, but it seems that he has been briefed since then.

Japan claims that 17 of its citizens were abducted and that 12 are still in North Korea, excluding five who returned to Japan in 2002 in a temporary return. However, North Korea counters that there is no abduction issue to resolve, saying eight of the 12 are dead and the other four have not come to North Korea. In other words, Kim reiterated her position and called on Japan to make a “political determination” in her statement.

Earlier in the year, Kim unusually addressed Kishida as "Your Excellency" in a letter of condolence for the earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Since then, there has been a diplomatic tug of war over the Japan-North Korea summit.

"At this stage, North Korea is carrying out a dual strategy of 'secret contacts below the surface' and 'open pressure above the surface,'" said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the North Korea Graduate University. He added, "Japan may use the Japan-North Korea summit card for domestic politics, and North Korea may use it as a stepping stone for a North Korea-U.S. summit while excluding South Korea." As a result, some worry that South Korea could be alienated as the initiative in the Korean Peninsula issue can be centered on the three countries of North Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.