Kim Yo Jong, the politically influential sister of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, said Thursday that her brother might be willing to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida if he would be “respectful.” He said there is.
Kishida has sought talks with the communist tyrant to discuss the fate of Japanese civilians abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s.
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, attends a wreath-laying ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi on March 2, 2019. (Jorge Silva/AFP via Getty Images)
North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency Quote Kim Yo Jong said that if Japan “makes a political decision that opens a new path to improving relations based on mutual respect and respectful behavior, I believe that our two countries can carve out a new future.” ” he said.
KCNA said Kim justified his remarks by adding that this was just a personal opinion and that he had no knowledge of his brother’s government’s plans to set up a meeting with Kishida. . But in North Korea, where Kim is considered highly influential and occupies a strange position in a strange government, she often acts as her brother’s press secretary and aide. Although Kim Yo Jong is technically only the deputy director of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, she appears to have far more influence than officials who technically rank above her.
Kim Added He said talks would only be possible if Kishida “does not put obstacles in place like the abduction issue that has already been resolved.” She suggested that Japan would show “anachronistic hostility and unattainable desires” by focusing too much on the abduction issue.
Even though many of the victims have died over the years, Japan does not consider the abduction issue to be “resolved.”Japan cause Every time the human rights situation in Pyongyang is discussed, there are nearly two dozen citizens known to have been abducted by North Korean agents over the years. North Korea has admitted part of the abduction, claiming it wanted to train the victims as “spies,” but resists revealing the full extent of its sinister plan.President Joe Biden met with During his visit to Japan in May 2022, he met with the families of the abductees and pledged to support their efforts to learn the fate of their loved ones.
Prime Minister Kishida said, press hard Encouraged by positive feedback from North Korean officials, it worked toward a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea. Kim Yo Jong specifically talks about Japan as follows: much less negative She is better conditioned than she was a few years ago.
Kim Jong-un sent After last month’s earthquake in Japan, Prime Minister Kishida sent a respectful message of condolence, but at the same time North Korea declared South Korea a formidable enemy with which it would no longer negotiate. Mr. Kishida took the condolences as an indication that Mr. Kim might discuss other issues as well.
The Chinese government is reportedly providing behind-the-scenes diplomatic support in order to make the summit a reality.The Biden administration is reportedly do not have The Kishida administration is not involved in this process and has not discussed the possibility of a summit with the Kim regime with the US government.
Kishida told Japan’s parliament last week that it was “extremely important” to “take the initiative in building top-level relations” with North Korea, and there was no time for delay. Mr. Kishida publicly offered to meet with Mr. Kim without setting any conditions in advance.
Japanese officials say one of the biggest obstacles is the abduction issue, as Kim Yo Jong’s comments showed. Another issue could be the security needs of South Korea and the United States. South Korea and the United States will be nervous about North Korea weakening Japan’s commitment to the alliance against North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, but hope Kishida can forge a more positive relationship with Kim. It may be. At this point, leaders in Seoul and Washington may be able to do so.
Any breakthrough regarding the abductees would be a major political victory for Mr. Kishida at home, and he may be tempted to make concessions that allies South Korea and the United States would not accept.
“North Korea is toying with Japan and South Korea, hoping to drive a wedge between the two countries by stoking South Korea’s fears that Japan could do business with North Korea behind the scenes,” said Asan Institute for Policy Studies senior researcher. Ko Myung-hyun said. Said of financial times on Thursday.
