How to interpret North Korea’s abrupt about-face on diplomacy with Japan



Analysis How to interpret North Korea’s abrupt about-face on diplomacy with Japan DPRK’s public rejection of talks may be a play for leverage, with Tokyo well-positioned to serve as intermediary to US Sangsoo Lee April 11, 2024 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A collage of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right) \| Images: KCNA (March 7, 2024), Image: NATO HQ PHOTO via Flickr (Jan. 13, 2023), edited by NK Pro North Korea recently poured cold water on widespread speculation that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio will visit Pyongyang for a summit with Kim Jong Un, criticizing Tokyo’s emphasis on the abduction issue. But a closer examination suggests it’s too early to completely rule out the possibility of a meeting between the two adversaries, with Japan still well-positioned to play a role in diplomacy with the DPRK. Kishida made a sudden push for high-level negotiations with North Korea in May 2023, and optimism for a summit initially surged following a positive statement from the DPRK leader Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Yoon bet on US to deter North Korea. Now he faces an alliance skeptic in Trump. 02All the question marks hanging over Trump’s approach to North Korea in term two 03Time almost up for North Korea’s plan to launch 3 military satellites in 2024 04Trump return rekindles prospects of North Korea talks, but Russia stands in way 05How China could benefit from North Korea’s troop deployment to Ukraine 06New North Korean ICBM delivers big political message, and likely bigger payloads 07How North Korea-Russia ties will challenge next US president, no matter who wins 08What to make of the stunning collapse in value of North Korean won

Analysis

How to interpret North Korea’s abrupt about-face on diplomacy with Japan

DPRK’s public rejection of talks may be a play for leverage, with Tokyo well-positioned to serve as intermediary to US

Sangsoo Lee April 11, 2024

How to interpret North Korea’s abrupt about-face on diplomacy with Japan

A collage of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right) | Images: KCNA (March 7, 2024), Image: NATO HQ PHOTO via Flickr (Jan. 13, 2023), edited by NK Pro

North Korea recently poured cold water on widespread speculation that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio will visit Pyongyang for a summit with Kim Jong Un, criticizing Tokyo’s emphasis on the abduction issue.

But a closer examination suggests it’s too early to completely rule out the possibility of a meeting between the two adversaries, with Japan still well-positioned to play a role in diplomacy with the DPRK.

Kishida made a sudden push for high-level negotiations with North Korea in May 2023, and optimism for a summit initially surged following a positive statement from the DPRK leader

How to interpret North Korea’s abrupt about-face on diplomacy with Japan

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Sangsoo Lee