Japan's PM Open to Meeting N. Korea Leader

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced his country's desire to normalize relations with North Korea and his determination to meet with leader Kim Jong-un during his address to the United Nations General Assembly.

In his speech to the General Assembly, Kishida stated, "Japan's policy towards North Korea has not changed. Japan wants to normalize its relations with North Korea."

He added, "With the aim of turning a new page together, I would like to express my determination to meet with President Kim Jong-un face-to-face and at any time without conditions."

The prime minister clarified that he would seek to "arrange high-level meetings" under his supervision to hold this summit as soon as possible.

Just a few days ago, a spokesperson for the Japanese government announced that Kishida was willing to meet Kim "without preconditions."

Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited North Korea twice, where he met with the late leader Kim Jong-il, the father of the current leader.

His first visit to Pyongyang in 2002 led to the return of five Japanese citizens who had been abducted by North Korea.

However, relations between Tokyo and Pyongyang deteriorated shortly afterward, worsening further after North Korea's nuclear test in 2006.

During his recent tour of Russia's Far East last week, Kim visited several Russian military-industrial sites and learned about Russia's strategic aviation and "Kinzhals" missiles, as well as the frigate "Marshal Shaposhnikov" belonging to the Russian Pacific Fleet.