North Korea changed its position just a day after conveying an intention to pursue a bilateral summit
“We should not be taken advantage of the Prime Minister of Japan who records the lowest approval rate”
Kim Yo Jong, the Deputy Director of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, declared on the 26th that she would “reject and ignore any contact or negotiation with Japan.” This is a reversal of her position just a day after she announced plans to pursue a summit with Japan.
In a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency, Kim said, “Japan lacks the courage to change its history, promote peace and stability in the region, and take the first step in a new North Korea-Japan relationship.”
She criticized Japan for ” interfering with our legitimate defense, which is a sovereign act, by bringing up the so-called nuclear and missile issues that have nothing to do with them. Japan’s attitude of holding onto impossible-to-overcome problems that cannot be solved nor have anything to be solved tells it all.”
She added, “The relationship between North Korea and Japan should not be exploited for the strategic calculations of the Japanese Prime Minister, who is aware of his record-low approval ratings,” and claimed that “it was the Japanese side who first knocked on the door, requesting a North Korea-Japan summit without any preconditions.” She asserted, “A North Korea-Japan summit is not a matter of interest to us.”
Meanwhile, on the 25th, Kim stated in a speech that “Japan has conveyed its intention to hold a North Korea-Japan summit” and that “the important thing in paving a new path for improving North Korea-Japan relations is Japan’s practical political decision.” In response, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said there’s “nothing decided” about the possibility of a North Korea-Japan summit.
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