Japan, S. Korea agree to maintain pressure on N. Korea

March 13, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Suh Hoon, head of South Korea's National Intelligence Service, agreed Monday that their countries will continue putting maximum pressure on North Korea until Pyongyang starts concrete actions toward denuclearization.

In their talks in Tokyo, Kono and Suh also agreed on bilateral cooperation to solve the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents decades ago.

Kono held the talks with Suh to receive a report on a meeting between South Korean officials, including Suh, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang last week.

Suh said there was no discussion on the abduction issue during the Pyongyang meeting, according to South Korean sources.

The meeting handled big issues such as denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and proposed summit talks, Suh said.

It would be possible for Japan to discuss the abduction issue with North Korea during the expected process of improvement in the two countries' relations, he also said.

In the talks with Suh, which lasted about three hours, Kono referred to a possible scenario in which North Korea agrees to give up its nuclear development and accept inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In such a case, Japan would help cover the initial costs, such as expenses for inspection equipment, Kono said.

"Recent changes shown by North Korea have resulted from the maximum pressure put on Pyongyang jointly by Japan, the United States and South Korea," Kono told Suh.

It is necessary to make North Korea take concrete actions through a planned inter-Korean summit in April and a US-North Korean summit likely to be held by May, Kono stressed.

Kono declined to say whether Suh relayed any message to Japan from Kim on the abduction issue or any other problems.

Suh is one of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's envoys who met with the North's leader last week. He also visited the United States for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Suh is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday. Jiji Press