Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi criticized Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, for making negative statements about negotiations with Japan regarding the abduction issue. We reiterated our understanding that there is no change in our position of lobbying for a Japan-North Korea summit meeting with the aim of bringing everyone back to Japan.
North Korea's Kim Yo Jong issued a statement on the 26th, following on from the 25th, stating that she would "refuse any contact or negotiations with the Japanese side," denying negotiations with Japan regarding the abduction issue. I showed my attitude.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi said at a morning press conference that he would refrain from commenting on North Korea's individual announcements, but said, ``As the families of the abductees are getting older, the time-sensitive abduction issue should be resolved for a while. This is a humanitarian issue that cannot be ignored."
``Prime Minister Kishida will make every effort to realize the return of all abductees as soon as possible.'' Based on this idea, Prime Minister Kishida said, ``In order to realize a summit meeting with General Secretary Kim Jong Un, "I would like to proceed with discussions at a high level under the direct control of the Prime Minister," he said.
He also refuted that Kim Yo Jong's claim in a statement that ``the North Korea-Japan relationship must not be used for the Japanese prime minister's political calculations'' is not true.