TOKYO -- Japan plans to push for a foreign ministers meeting with North Korea in August should the North make progress toward denuclearization after the summit between the United States and the communist country, the Japanese news agency has said.
Citing multiple government sources, Japan's Kyodo News reported Tuesday that its government is considering ministerial talks with North Korea on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum slated for Aug. 1-4 in Singapore.
If held, Ri Yong-ho from Pyongyang would sit down for talks with his Japanese counterpart, Taro Kono.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, left, and North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho (AP)
After the inter-Korean summit held last month, Japanese officials met with the North Korean side and have expressed the country's will to hold such a high-level meeting, according to the news agency, adding that Tokyo is not known to have received a response from the North yet.
In case the much-awaited summit between the US and North Korea does not take place, or little progress is made regarding the North's nuclear weapons programs, Japan would scrap the plan, the news report noted.
Japan and North Korea held a meeting of their foreign ministers in 2015 in Malaysia on key issues of mutual interest, including the North's nuclear and missiles development issues and Japanese nationals who were abducted to North Korea. (Yonhap)
