N Korea says Kishida has requested summit with Kim Jong Un

The abduction issue does not exist.

I'm sorry @indigo - its clearly not, as they admitted to some. Nice post.

The abduction issue is the LDP's go to card every time there is a scandal or the poll numbers are a bit low. I think even the most gullible of Japanese will have started seeing through this facade by now.

Judging by that photo the Korean leaders days are pretty numbered anyway.

Sounds like a desperate effort by the desperate Prime Minister who’s trying to boost his record low approval rating by pulling off a diplomatic breakthrough.

"without any conditions" 

Politically, ideologically, literally polar opposites......

North Korea is/has developed the means to incinerate all life in Japan.

The only rubb, is US has its Seventh Fleet peppered across Japan, along with forward bases within the region.

Donald Trump made a right pigs ear trying to reason with Kim Jong Un.

Good idea, due to US NATO Ukraine Proxy War, NK now has thousands of times killing power and delivery capabilities it had vs. pre Feb2022. Why? Due to Russia military tech. proliferation to NK as strategic response.

As there is no military security in Japan, it's an illusion. Better to talk and get on a peaceful path, rather than throw money down a rathole on futile military spending.

And NK has become BIG weapons producer, with far better missiles & rockets, including hypersonic. China's another critical enabler of NK weapons production.

Kishida San waking up to the reality that NK can never be defeated, that a path to peaceful relations a must.

It's actually not just a Japan NK issue, world needs to follow this lead. As continued military buildup and escalation will only lead to tragic mistakes and WW III.

Kim Yo Jong -- who is one of the regime's key spokespeople -- had hinted last month at a possible future invitation for the Japanese leader to visit North Korea.

When Yo Jung summons; thou shalt come.

What's Kishida going to do? He's no Koizumi, for starters. Second, he's only doing this because of his collapse in popularity.

Smart move, those who seek peace must prepare for war.

There is almost no chance that Kim Jong Un doesn’t have diabetes.

Does someone want to look like a global statesman before an upcoming election?

Don't worry Mr. Kishida, they don't like you, don't support your cabinet but the electorate will vote you all back in.... It's the default setting.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Perhaps these two photos shouldn't have been put together

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister said Monday

"Powerful sister"?

AKA The rodent-like thing.

Unfortunate genes in the Kim family, to be sure.

The abduction issues aren't the most important issues

The firing of missiles and regional stability is most important

I hope Kishida can move forward with North Korea relations as LDP japan always loves to play the victim

The whole Japanese history of the Korea's is a total boiling pot of frustration and not to mention Japanese ancestry and historical migration came from there / han / tibet etc

New silent deep diving Russia tech proliferation-based drone submarine bombs that NK now deploying, just ONE with +100x the killing power of Hiroshima.

That's WHY Kishida's reaching out, recognizes NK also has hypersonic missiles, world class ballistic missiles, advanced nuclear warheads, etc. Russian proliferation to NK, ALL DUE to US NATO Ukraine proxy war.

There is no real security for any country anymore, that's WHY Kishida is taking a new approach, based on peace and stability with NK. Smart, as a fool's errand to follow the US path towards expensive $militarization.

My god, Kim sure has porked up lately. I wonder how you explain being the only obese person surrounded by a nation full of malnourished citizens.

That's WHY Kishida's reaching out, recognizes NK also has hypersonic missiles, world class ballistic missiles, advanced nuclear warheads, etc. Russian proliferation to NK, ALL DUE to US NATO Ukraine proxy war.

Yup !

And it might come as a total surprise to many as to how many submarines NK has tboot .

NK and Putin are busy whilst China twiddling it's thumbs

without a substantive policy change on Tokyo's part.

Exactly what policy is Kim Yo Jong referring to? The only policy I am aware of is to try to avoid North Korea’s erratic missiles.

Like it or not, NK can end life in Japan anytime now, there is no security. Kishida's wise to course correct.

Willing to meet "without any preconditions." It can't get any simpler than that. I admire PM Kishida's desire to talk some sense into the NK leaders. Good luck!

He's turning into a fat pig.

@HopeSpringsEternal Your post are so one sided anti japanese I wonder how many wooden nickles you have collected for every illogical post. With that said "Like it or not" LIFE in NK is at dire straits right now the people are too hungry to fight and if the country went to war they will be too weak to fight. Porky the pig can only feed his army so much once those supplies get cut off then what? I can almost guarantee you he will be fighting his own people, they will turn on the fat pig if they get any indication he is losing power. So where is his security. Fat Kim would be wise to feed his people, if he can't control his weight and he can only control the people for so long sooner or later he will deflate! Like it or not you go to NK you go back in time 70 years, NK ending life in Japan is NK being wiped off the map and Kim knows that!

Like it or not, NK can end life in Japan anytime now, there is no security. Kishida's wise to course correct.

In trying to understand this odd obsession to meet Kim my only conclusion is crabs. Japan is being denied Russian crabs. Japan wants more crabs. Follow the crabs.

HopeSpringsEternalMar. 25 09:52 pm JST

Like it or not, NK can end life in Japan anytime now, there is no security. Kishida's wise to course correct.

Like it or not, NK would be similarly obliterated so your call for appeasement is ridiculous. Also Still Putin's War.

HopeSpringsEternalMar. 25 05:38 pm JST

As there is no military security in Japan, it's an illusion.

There is no military security for Russia or China either, it's an illusion.

Good, be nice each other and be friends..

Asia for the Asians..

The timing of this is suspicious. As other posters have said, "We're not stupid, Mr. Kishida." And, you're no Koizumi, or even Abe.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Demonic People's Republic of Korea, there fixed it for you!

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Certainly not the type of democracy a democracy should be !

Election season!

Worldbuilding is a beautiful project. It is time for world leaders and their supporters to get on the front foot and act in style.