North Korea's Kim Yo-jong: "Japan's Kishida May Visit Pyongyang... If a Decision Is Made, a New Future Awaits"

Mentioning Prime Minister Kishida's Remarks, "The Day the Prime Minister Visits Pyongyang May Come"

Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, suggested the possibility of improving North Korea-Japan relations on the condition of resolving the 'abduction issue.'

Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, stated on the 15th regarding Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's remarks about pursuing a North Korea-Japan summit, "If (Japan) makes a political decision to open a new path for improving relations, the two countries can certainly open a new future together."

According to the Korean Central News Agency, in a statement released that day, Kim said, "If Japan shakes off the bad habit of unjustly raising issues about our right to self-defense and does not treat the already resolved abduction issue as an obstacle to the prospects of bilateral relations, there will be no reason for the two countries not to come closer, and the day may come when Prime Minister (Kishida) visits Pyongyang."

Kim Yo-jong, Vice Director of the Workers' Party and younger sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, arrived on the 13th (local time) at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur Oblast, Russia, where the North Korea-Russia summit is being held.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Yo-jong said, "It is a fact recognized by everyone that Japan has continued to bring up the abduction issue, which has already been resolved, and the nuclear and missile issues, which have nothing to do with North Korea-Japan relations improvement, as prerequisites, causing the relations between the two countries to deteriorate for decades."

She added, "My view is that if Japan courageously abandons its outdated hostile mindset and unrealistic obsession, makes a political decision to open a new path for improving relations based on mutual recognition, and behaves with courteous conduct and sincere actions, the two countries can certainly open a new future together."

However, Kim emphasized, calling it a "personal opinion," that "Our (North Korean) national leadership has no plans for any initiative to improve North Korea-Japan relations and is understood to have no interest in contact."

Prime Minister Kishida appeared before the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the 9th and said regarding the North Korea-Japan summit, "We are specifically engaged in various activities," and "Considering the current state of North Korea-Japan relations, I strongly feel the need to boldly change the situation."

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