Japan, S. Korea Agree to Work Closely for N. Korea Denuclearization

September 12, 2018

Hanoi- Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and his South Korean counterpart, Kang Kyung-wha, on Tuesday reconfirmed close cooperation between their countries and among them plus the United States in realizing the denuclearization of North Korea.

The Kono-Kang meeting was held in Hanoi, prior to the third meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un from Sept. 18.

Kono said that he expects the inter-Korean summit will lead North Korea to take concrete actions toward its denuclearization.

After the meeting, Kono told reporters that he believes achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula absolutely remains the top priority for the international society.

The ministers exchanged views ahead of the 20th anniversary next month of the 1998 Japan-South Korea joint declaration, which called for the establishment of future-oriented bilateral relations.

Kono told Kang that he looks forward to Moon's visit to Japan. The two countries' governments will discuss a specific date for the presidential visit.

They agreed to properly handle difficult issues between Japan and South Korea, including the issue of Korean comfort women allegedly forced into prostitution for Japanese troops before and during World War II, according to Japanese officials with access to the meeting.

Meanwhile, South Korean officials said that the two sides explained their respective positions on the pending issues.

On Kim's proposal to hold a second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Kono told reporters that he hopes North Korea will take concrete steps toward its denuclearization.

"Japan would welcome the second summit if it leads to such steps," he said. Trump and Kim met in Singapore on June 12 in the first-ever summit between the United States and North Korea.

Kono and Kang also discussed the issue of Japanese citizens kidnapped to North Korea decades ago. Jiji Press