Kim Yo Jong Urges Japan to Make Political Decision for Improved DPRK Relations
Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), has called on Japan to make a political decision to enhance its ties with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Her remarks came in response to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s recent proposal for a summit with the DPRK’s top leader.
Noting that Prime Minister Kishida expressed his intention to meet Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the WPK and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, Kim Yo Jong emphasized that the mere idea of a summit would not suffice to improve bilateral relations fraught with distrust and misunderstanding.
According to a press statement issued by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the senior DPRK official warned that Kishida’s proposal might be perceived as a political stunt or a bid for popularity if Japan continues to interfere with the DPRK’s sovereignty.
“When Japan infringes upon the sovereignty of the DPRK, doggedly standing hostile to it, the former will become a target of the latter, being regarded as its enemy,” Kim Yo Jong was quoted as saying by the KCNA.
She urged Japan to make a strategic political decision aligned with its overall interests if it genuinely wishes to improve bilateral relations. “The DPRK’s strengthened self-defense capability will never be a threat to the security of Japan, if the latter respects the former’s sovereignty and security interests in a fair and equal stand,” she added.
The statement clarifies the DPRK’s stance towards Japan, emphasizing that mutual respect and cessation of hostile actions are essential for any meaningful improvement in relations.
(Cover image: Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida answers questions during a House of Councillors budget committee session at parliament in Tokyo, March 25, 2024. /CFP)
Reference(s):
DPRK clarifies stance on Japanese PM's bilateral summit proposal
cgtn.com
