Japan, North Korea meet on abducted citizens

On July 3rd, the South Korean newspaper Dong-A Ilbo reported that Tokyo and Pyongyang held a meeting last month regarding the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.

Illustrative image. (Source: Kyodo News)

Specifically, the newspaper, citing a diplomatic source, reported that North Korean and Japanese officials have met at least twice in third countries such as China and Singapore.

The newspaper suggested that if negotiations continue, the two sides could discuss the possibility of holding higher-level meetings in the future. Japan is also said to have notified the US in advance about the meetings with North Korea.

Responding to this information, Koo Byoung Sam, spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Unification, said he did not have enough data to confirm the meeting.

Earlier, at the end of May, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio pledged to hold bilateral talks and arrange a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Meanwhile, Pyongyang's vice foreign minister asserted that there was "no reason" for the two countries "not to meet."

In 2002, North Korea repatriated five Japanese citizens. Since then, Tokyo has called on Pyongyang to release the remaining 12.

In related news, over the weekend, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appointed Kim Yung Ho, a renowned scholar known for his hardline stance on North Korea, to head the country's Ministry of Unification.

According to Mr. Yoon, it is time for the Ministry of Unification to "fulfill its responsibilities in accordance with the constitutional principle that unification must be based on a liberal democratic order."

For his part, Kim Yung Ho emphasized the need to pressure Pyongyang on human rights issues, considering this a priority in Seoul's inter-Korean policy.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bao-han-quoc-nhat-ban-trieu-tien-hop-ve-cong-dan-bi-bat-coc-233229.html