Suga: "If Kim Yo-jong Comes to the Tokyo Olympics, There Is Room for Dialogue"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stated that North Korea's ballistic missile launches are absolutely unacceptable acts, but he left open the possibility of dialogue if a high-ranking North Korean official visits Japan during the Tokyo Olympics.

On the 26th, during the House of Councillors Budget Committee, when asked whether he would hold a North Korea-Japan summit if Kim Yo-jong, Vice Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, visits Japan during the Tokyo Olympics, Prime Minister Suga replied, "If it helps resolve the abduction issue, I believe it is my duty to solve it. I want to respond by considering all possibilities."

Earlier, he had referred to the idea of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un visiting Japan during the Tokyo Olympics and holding a North Korea-Japan summit as a "good opportunity."

When asked whether issues such as the abduction of Japanese citizens, nuclear weapons, and missiles would be on the agenda if meeting with North Korean high-ranking officials, Prime Minister Suga said, "I refrain from answering hypothetical questions," but added, "Resolving the abduction issue is the most important task of our administration."

Regarding North Korea's ballistic missile launch the day before the start of the Tokyo Olympics torch relay, he said, "It is absolutely unacceptable," and added, "When I visit the United States next month and hold a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden, we will discuss cooperation policies between the two countries concerning North Korea, including ballistic missiles."

Prime Minister Suga stated, "This North Korean launch is an act that threatens Japan's peace and security and violates United Nations Security Council resolutions," and said, "We will respond in close cooperation with related countries such as South Korea and the United States."

Regarding whether President Biden will be invited to the Tokyo Olympics, he said, "We have secured support for hosting the Olympics from the Group of Seven (G7) leaders," and added, "Naturally, we will do so."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.