Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he will hold a face-to-face meeting with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un in order to restore the diplomatic relations between the two sides – Japan and North Korean.
According to Al-Jazeera news reports, in his major policy speech to mark the opening of Japan’s parliament, Abe on Monday, pledged to push forward Japan-China ties “to a new stage” and also vowed a record budget in order to enhance crumbled infrastructure in the third biggest economy of the world.
Abe said: “I will act resolutely, never failing to seize every opportunity to break the shell of mutual distrust, and I myself will directly face Chairman Kim Jong-Un … to resolve North Korea’s nuclear and missile issues, as well as the abductions issue.”
Abe did not provide any timeframe regarding his potential meeting with North Korean leader but however, the comment by Abe came after Kim ordered preparation for his second summit with the United States President Donald Trump at the end of February.
While referring to harm which was caused by Japan during its brutal colonization of the Korean peninsula during and before World War II, Abe said, “I will aim at diplomatic normalization by settling the unfortunate past.”
However, North Korean authorities have not publicly expressed any of its willingness to meet Abe, while Pyongyang’s state media excoriate Japan over ramping up defence spending.
Earlier this month, a commentary by North Korea’s official KCNA news agency called Japan “heinous criminal state against humanity”, and an “immoral and impudent country”.
Abe said, “I will strongly pursue diplomacy with neighbours for a new era … in order to make Northeast Asia truly a land of stable peace and prosperity.”