Friday, March 23, 2018

Japan Is Talking To North Korea

Asia Times: Japan in diplomatic contact with North Korea through Beijing embassy

Is Tokyo warming to Pyongyang?

The Japanese government has disclosed that it’s been “exchanging views” with North Korea ahead of planned summits between North Korea, the US and South Korea, according to UPI.

The development is viewed as a sign that Tokyo, which has expressed skepticism about Pyongyang’s intentions in improving diplomatic ties, is also interested in detente with North Korea.

“In a rare admission regarding Tokyo’s engagement with Pyongyang, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan has been in “various ways, exchanging views with North Korea,” UPI said, picking up a report from South Korea’s Yonhap news agency on Thursday.

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WNU Editor: There are two reasons for Japan's outreach. (1) Wanting to know the fate of Japanese citizens that were kidnapped by the North Koreans years ago. (2) Leaving a door open for detente.

1 comment:

B.Poster said...

Japan was also correctly called out by candidate Trump along with South Korea as allies who were not/are not pulling their weight. This essentially sent a message that America patience at being their b!tch boy is not unlimited nor will we tolerate forever being their military arm to carry out their foreign policy. In the case of South Korea, this probably had a big role in getting us where are in terms of negotiations. In other words, it sent a message to them that perhaps they needed to get serious about trying to make peace with North Korea. Similar factors are probably at work with regards to Japan.