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“In any case, as Japan, we will continue our efforts under our existing policies to resolve current issues with North Korea.”
On the night of the 26th, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with reporters at his official residence and said, “I am aware of the reports that Ms. Kim Yo Jong has made comments, but I would refrain from saying something about every one of these comments,” according to NHK.
Earlier, Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), affirmed her position of refusing dialogue, including a North Korea-Japan summit, citing the lack of change in Japan’s attitude through her “statement.”
In particular, she pointed out the fact that Yoshimasa Hayashi, the spokesperson for the Japanese government and Minister of Defense, said, “We can never accept North Korea’s claim that the abduction issue has already been resolved.” She also expressed discontent with agendicizing “nuclear and missile issues” under “legitimate defense.”
Vice Department Director Kim said, “The recent remarks about the Japan-North Korea summit by Prime Minister Kishida, which have drawn attention several times, were made for his political purposes.” She criticized, “The Japan-North Korea relationship should not be exploited for the strategic calculations of the Japanese Prime Minister, who is conscious of his all-time low approval rating.”
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