Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Nov. 5 that the Tokyo Summer Olympics, which have been postponed until next July, will be a “very important opportunity” for leaders from the countries in the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue to meet.
Appearing before the House of Councillors Committee on Budget that day, Suga responded to a question from Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Shinkun Haku, who proposed that Japan take the initiative in inviting South Korean President Moon Jae-in and other leaders for a round of six-party talks at the time of the Tokyo Olympics.
“I don’t think we’ll get many opportunities like that for leaders to gather in one place,” Suga replied.
“In diplomatic terms, it will be a very important opportunity,” he added.
Observers have been talking about the Tokyo Olympics as a global event that presents the potential to restart dialogue on the North Korean nuclear issue. The attendance of Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) First Deputy Director Kim Yo-jong as a member of the North Korean delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang led to eventual inter-Korean and North Korea-US summits. Indeed, US White House National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien mentioned next year’s Tokyo Olympics as a possible time for resuming North Korea-US dialogue during a teleconference with the Aspen Institute on Oct. 16.
When asked the same day whether he might meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if he visits Japan for the Tokyo Olympics, Suga said he would “not respond to a hypothetical question,” but added that he “see[s] it as a good opportunity.” In a speech before the UN General Assembly in September, Suga indicated his willingness to meet unconditionally with Kim to solve the issue of Japanese citizens abducted to North Korea.
Commenting on the matter of forced labor mobilization -- the most contentious issue in South Korea-Japan relations -- Suga reiterated the Japanese government’s position insisting that the “South Korean government must present a solution, as it is in violation of international law.”
By Kim So-youn, staff reporter
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