Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida offers to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong-un even as ‘nothing decided so far’

Kim Yo-jong said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency that Kishida recently proposed an in-person summit to meet with her brother “as soon as possible” through “another channel”, referring to one other than those that have been used for bilateral communication.

Kishida said in parliament on Monday his government has lobbied for a possible summit meeting with the North Korean leader. He stressed the importance of summit talks to secure the return of Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s.

Later in the day, Kishida told reporters at his office that he is aware of the report, but that “nothing has been decided so far on whether a [Japan-North Korea] summit will be realised”.

Kim Yo-jong, a senior official in North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, said in February a visit by Kishida to Pyongyang is possible if Tokyo does not make the issue of past abductions of Japanese nationals an obstacle between the two countries, according to KCNA.

In Monday’s statement, she said the important thing in creating an opening for improved bilateral relations is “for Japan to make its political decision in actuality”, KCNA said, urging Tokyo to change its stance on the abduction issue.

Pyongyang claims the issue has already been settled, but Tokyo, which officially lists a total of 17 Japanese nationals as abductees, rejects the assertion. Chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan’s top government spokesman, reiterated Monday that the claim was “totally unacceptable”.

But the spokesman declined to provide details, citing the possible negative impact on negotiations with North Korea going forward.

Kim Yo-jong said as long as Japan remains “engrossed in the abduction issue that has