Japanese Premier vows to pursue "Fruitful" ties with North Korea despite rejection of talks

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida affirmed the commitment of his government to foster ties with North Korea, expressing the belief that a constructive relationship between the two nations would be advantageous for both parties.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, "Realizing a fruitful relationship between Japan and North Korea is aligned with the interests of both sides," Kishida stated. 

His remarks follow recent developments where North Korea rebuffed any potential contact or negotiations with Japan.

Despite this setback, Kishida reiterated Japan's determination to engage with North Korea and address longstanding issues, notably the abduction of Japanese nationals by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s.

Kishida emphasized Japan's ongoing efforts to resolve the abduction issue and other matters related to North Korea.

North Korea rejects talks with Japan over abduction dispute

This exchange comes in the wake of North Korea's declaration, dismissing the possibility of future talks with Japan. The rejection came after Tokyo disputed Pyongyang's assertions regarding the resolution of the abduction issue.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, accused Kishida of leveraging bilateral ties for "political calculations" in a statement conveyed by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

The abduction issue has been a significant point of contention between Japan and North Korea since 2002 when North Korea admitted to abducting 13 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s for espionage training.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Pyongyang in 2002 resulted in the return of five Japanese nationals, but subsequent diplomatic efforts faltered as Tokyo accused Pyongyang of withholding information about the abduction victims.

Despite the challenges, Prime Minister Kishida remains committed to pursuing dialogue and enhancing relations with North Korea, underscoring the potential benefits for both countries.

Source: Newsroom