On March 26, Kyodo News reported that North Korea state-run media had announced that it had rejected any and all further contact with Japan.
At the time, the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un were negotiating for a potential summit between the two leaders, but this was canceled due to the North Korean announcement.
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the Supreme Leader, released a statement in relation to the earlier announcement by state-run media, where she criticized Japan for “clinging to the unattainable issues which can never be settled” according to Kyodo News.
The “unattainable issue” referenced, is the abductions of 17 Japanese nationals by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s.
Japan and North Korea have no official diplomatic ties.
This comes as North Korea has engaged in numerous drills, increased its alleged development of a hypersonic missile, and the Supreme Leader has told his troops to engage in “preparations for war” according to the Associated Press.
