Visitors Now:
Total Visits:
Total Stories:
Profile image
Story Views

Now:
Last Hour:
Last 24 Hours:
Total:

Japan PM adviser in North Korea: Report

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 10:50
% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

(Before It's News)

An adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has travelled to North Korea, but the purpose of his trip is still unknown, a report says.

Isao Iijima arrived in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, on Tuesday, Japan™s Kyodo news agency said, adding that he was greeted by Kim Chol-ho, the vice director of Asian Affairs Department of North Korea™s Foreign Ministry.

According to Japan™s national broadcaster NHK, Iijima is expected to remain in North Korea until later in the week.

The behind-the-scenes heavyweight was also a top aide to former premier Junichiro Koizumi, who visited Pyongyang for talks with late North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, in September 2002 and May 2004.

Apparently, the meeting has surprised Washington as Glyn Davies, the US State Department™s special representative for North Korea, told journalists in the South Korean capital of Seoul that he had not been aware of the journey.

œI had not heard that. So that will obviously be something that I will discuss with the Japanese when I have a chance to talk to my counterparts there in a couple of days,” said Davies, who is due in Japan later in the week.

Japan does not have diplomatic ties with North Korea. Tokyo™s concerns about Pyongyang™s nuclear and missile tests in recent years and a dispute over Japanese citizens who were allegedly kidnapped by North Korean agents decades ago have strained the two countries™ relations.

North Korea conducted its third nuclear test in February. Pyongyang had previously launched a long-range rocket on December 12, 2012.

The atomic test drew condemnation from several countries including Japan, South Korea as well as the US and triggered new UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

On February 22, US President Barack Obama met with Japanese prime minister in Washington and held talks on their concerns about œthe provocative actions that have been taken by North Korea and our determination to take strong actions in response.”

MR/PR

This article originally appeared on : Press TV



Source: http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/japan-pm-adviser-in-north-korea-report/33492/

Report abuse

Comments

Your Comments
Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

Top Stories
Recent Stories

Register

Newsletter

Email this story
Email this story

If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.