PM Kishida: I'm Ready To Meet Kim Jong Un At Any Time

Japanese DOC/Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attended the 18th Asian Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday (7/9/2023). Media Center of the ASEAN Summit 2023/Aditya Pradana Putra/

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he was ready to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "at any time" as an effort to reach the world without nuclear weapons.

With regard to Japan's desire to resolve all issues with North Korea, including a series of missile tests carried out by North Korea and the kidnapping of Japanese citizens in the past, Kishida said before the United Nations General Assembly in New York: "I want to meet Kim Jong-un at any time unconditionally," quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Wednesday, September 20.

Kishida said Japan wanted to restore relations with North Korea and added that he wanted "to hold high-level talks under his direct supervision to realize a summit in the near future."

Kishida, who came from Hiroshima City who was hit by an atomic bomb, said the nuclear weapon was an "mission for the rest of his life."

According to nuclear-armed countries to increase their involvement in the nuclear cutoffs, he stated that Japan would contribute 3 billion yen (approximately IDR 311.5 billion) "to reach the world without nuclear weapons."

"The funds will be used for research and policy-making regarding the expansion," he said.

Kishida stressed that engagement and dialogue with nuclear-armed countries about the exclusion is important, stating "the nuclear threat must be stopped."

The world is at a historic point of change, Kishida said, saying that international law violations and changing the status quo with violence are unacceptable anywhere in the world.

"The attack on Ukraine has not stopped," Kishida said, urging Russia to respect Ukraine's territorial sovereignty, which is the basic principle of international law."

Kishida said there was "a desire to give up on peace" and "we have to try towards a world full of peace and cooperation, not division."

Supporting strong and effective multilateralism, he stressed the need for a world that cares about human dignity, where (people) live in safety and security. In a world that is increasingly divided, "we need the same language," he added.

"The international community can overcome divisions through human-centered international cooperation based on the concept of human security," he said, calling for steps to avoid the food crisis.

Then regarding net zero carbon emissions, Kishida said Asian countries remain important in this regard.

In addition, Kishida invites the world to "ready to face infectious diseases in the future" take lessons from COVID-19. Kishida also said Japan would continue its efforts to change the UN.