Kim Jong Un willing to talk, normalize ties with Japan

0 0 April 30, 2018 Edit this post

North Korean Chairman of the State Affairs Committee Kim Jong Un signs the joint Panmunjom Declaration at the Peace House in the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea, on April 27, 2018. It was the first time a North Korean leader had crossed the border since the Korean War. Photo by Inter-Korean Summit Press Corps/UPI

By Jennie Oh, UPI

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he is willing to talk to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a Seoul presidential official said.

Presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said President Moon Jae-in held a phone call with Abe on Sunday, during which the two leaders agreed to join hands in creating an environment that can lead to a successful denuclearization pact between the United States and North Korea.

Abe is said to have "highly assessed," the two Korea's agreement to pursue a full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, through their Panmunjom Declaration made Friday after Moon and Kim Jong Un's historic summit.

During his meeting with Kim, Moon is known to have brought up the issue of Japanese nationals detained in North Korea, Chosun Ilbo reported.

The South Korean president promised to act as a bridge between Pyongyang and Tokyo, telling the Japanese PM that Kim is willing to speak with him and normalize ties with Japan.

Moon also spoke to Russian President Vladmir Putin the same day. The Russian leader reportedly said there is a need to ensure the achievements of the inter-Korean summit lead into joint cooperation between the two Koreas and Moscow, Yonhap reported.

He said Moscow's railway, gas and power systems could be connected to the Korean Peninsula through Siberia, adding to the stability and prosperity of the two Koreas.

Putin also requested Moon's visit to Russia before the World Cup opens in June.

From May, Moon is set to hold back-to-back summits with the United States, China, Japan and Russia.

The South Korean president is expected to hold a phone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a few days, due to Xi's domestic engagements.