Japanese prime minister’s adviser arrives in Pyongyang, a report says

Isao Iijima arrived in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, on Tuesday, Japan’s Kyodo news agency said, adding that he was greeted by Kim Chol-ho, the vice director of Asian Affairs Department of North Korea’s Foreign Ministry.
 
According to Japan’s national broadcaster NHK, Iijima is expected to remain in North Korea until later in the week.
 
The behind-the-scenes heavyweight was also a top aide to former premier Junichiro Koizumi, who visited Pyongyang for talks with late North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, in September 2002 and May 2004.
 
Apparently, the meeting has surprised Washington as Glyn Davies, the US State Department’s special representative for North Korea, told journalists in the South Korean capital of Seoul that he had not been aware of the journey.
 
“I had not heard that. So that will obviously be something that I will discuss with the Japanese when I have a chance to talk to my counterparts there in a couple of days,” said Davies, who is due in Japan later in the week.
 
Japan does not have diplomatic ties with North Korea. Tokyo’s concerns about Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests in recent years and a dispute over Japanese citizens who were allegedly kidnapped by North Korean agents decades ago have strained the two countries’ relations.
 
North Korea conducted its third nuclear test in February. Pyongyang had previously launched a long-range rocket on December 12, 2012.
 
The atomic test drew condemnation from several countries including Japan, South Korea as well as the US and triggered new UN sanctions against Pyongyang.
 
On February 22, US President Barack Obama met with Japanese prime minister in Washington and held talks on their concerns about “the provocative actions that have been taken by North Korea and our determination to take strong actions in response.”