A North Korean interlocutor who was responsible for Japan’s secret dealings with the North Korean government and had direct access to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has cut off contact with the North Korean government years ago, citing poor health, leaving Japan without a channel of communication with the North Korean government, Kyodo News reported on Thursday (15).
The report said the interlocutor was a member of the North Korean Ministry of National Security (now called the Ministry of National Defense) who was in charge of secret consultations with Japan since the former premier Junichiro Koizumi’s visit to North Korea, and was involved in negotiations with Mr. X in connection with Koizumi’s visit to North Korea in 2002. He has been in China and Mongolia several times for consultations with Japan. He was also in charge of the 2014 Stockholm agreement, which provided for a new investigation into North Korea’s abduction of Japanese nationals. He also informed Japan of the entry into North Korea of missing Japanese national Tanaka and the new Ryuguang Kaneda, which the North Koreans have denied.
The interlocutor told Japan several years ago that he was in poor health, and there were allegations that he had brain or circulatory problems, or that he was replaced because of the lack of progress in negotiations with Japan. The ambassador in charge of the negotiations between Japan and North Korea is also Song Il-ho, but Japanese government sources say Song is just a window, different from the secret interlocutor who has the authority.
Analysis shows that Japanese Prime Minister Kan called for a summit meeting between Japan and North Korea, hoping to secure a direct line to Kim Jong-un’s interlocutor through all channels. But North Korea to deal with the new crown epidemic to block the border, but also announced not to participate in the Tokyo Olympics, so Kan’s government frustrated.
In addition, the Japanese Coast Guard also pointed out on Thursday that during the six-month period up to March this year, the North Korean ships drifting to the coast of the Sea of Japan decreased by nearly 90% compared to the previous year, with only 13 reports, and in 2019, the security agency found more than 1,300 North Korean ships operating illegally in Japan’s exclusive economic zone “Yamato Pile” and made In addition, the Security Bureau found more than 1,300 North Korean vessels operating illegally in Japan’s EEZ “Yamato Pile” in 2019 and warned them to leave.
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