Senior Japan, S. Korea diplomats discuss North Korea

January 8, 2018

Seoul- Kenji Kanasugi, Japan's chief representative in the six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear development program, held a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Do-hoon, in Seoul on Monday.

Kanasugi, director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, and Lee, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs at South Korea's Foreign Ministry, are believed to have reaffirmed the two countries' close cooperation in response to issues related to North Korea, ahead of high-level talks between the two Koreas in Panmunjom on Tuesday.

A senior official at South Korea's presidential office has said that top priority for Seoul in the inter-Korean talks will be the issue of North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February.

Japan and the United States are concerned that such a stance could help weaken the international pressure on North Korea.

Against the background, Kanasugi apparently informed Lee of Japan's position seeking to continue strengthening sanctions and pressure on North Korea in order to realize the denuclearization of the reclusive country.

The high-level talks between North and South Korea will be the first since December 2015. Jiji Press