Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday he was willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as tensions persist over Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
In his speech to the UN General Assembly, Kishida declared that he was “ready to engage in dialogue on topics of common interest” with North Korea.
“I am determined to meet with Kim Jong Un without preconditions and I will not miss any opportunity to act with full dedication,” he said.
The North Korean leader has met on three occasions with former US President Donald Trump, reducing tensions but without reaching a lasting solution over his nuclear program.
The Japanese prime minister’s remarks come after Pyongyang passed a new law declaring North Korea capable of carrying out pre-emptive nuclear strikes, including in response to conventional attacks.
The US administration of President Joe Biden has repeatedly expressed its desire to begin negotiations with Pyongyang over its nuclear program, but has not received a positive response so far.
