N. Korean and Japanese foreign ministers meet at ASEAN forum

Posted on : 2014-08-12 16:56 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
A few chance encounters between the South and North Korean foreign ministers, but no meeting

By Kim Oi-hyun, staff reporter in Naypyidaw and Gil Yun-hyung, Tokyo correspondent

The North Korean and Japanese foreign ministers held their first separate meeting in ten years at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, on Aug. 10.

Analysts said the meeting reflected the progress made in recent talks over the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea.

In contrast, the North and South Korean foreign ministers had several “encounters” during the event, but no significant meetings.

Following his meeting on the afternoon of Aug. 10 with his North Korean counterpart Ri Su-yong, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said he had “expressed Japan’s position on security issues such as nuclear and missile development, as well as the special committee’s investigation,” referring to a committee launched in early July by the North Korean government to investigate the abductee issue.

“Mr. Ri also talked about North Korea’s position,” Kishida added.

It was the first meeting of North Korea and Japan’s foreign ministers since July 2004.

Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper and other news outlets were cautious about reading too much into the encounter, which they described as “contact” rather than a “meeting.” One reason for the caution may be awareness of the discomfort other countries, namely the US and South Korea, feel about Pyongyang and Tokyo’s newfound closeness. The concern is that holding official ministerial talks at the ASEAN Regional Forum might give those countries the impression that a North Korea visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is imminent.

In contrast, North Korea had no meaningful meetings with South Korea or the US during the event.

“Yun Byung-se [South Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs] had three or four natural opportunities to meet with Ri Su-yong, but there were no situations of the two of them meeting alone,” said a senior South Korean government official on condition of anonymity.

Images of Yun shaking hands with Ri after a commemorative photograph at an Aug. 9 dinner were shown in the press.

The US State Department shared its own position at a briefing on Aug. 4, with spokesperson Jen Psaki saying, “There is no plan for [a meeting with Ri], nor do I anticipate that’s something that would take place.”

 

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