Il repeatedly confirmed the possibility of a new North Korean missile...Emphasis on Will to 'Conversation' Amid Criticism

Japan "North Korea's nuclear and missile development is unacceptable"
Japan's Foreign Minister "sending troops to North Korea deteriorates situation in Ukraine"
"There is no change in his willingness to talk to North Korea.

[Anchor]
While Japan has criticized North Korea for its intercontinental ballistic missile launch and its dispatch to Ukraine, it has repeatedly expressed its willingness to "talk."

Japan is watching North Korea's movements more closely than ever, and is also paying close attention to the impact on its major pending issue, the abduction issue.

Correspondent Kim Se-ho's report from Tokyo.

[Reporter]
When North Korea unveiled the Hwasong-19 type, the Japanese government also said it could be a new ICBM.

[Yoshimasa Hayashi / Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary: After close cooperation between South Korea and the United States, we believe it may be a new ICBM-class ballistic missile.]

He then criticized North Korea's nuclear and missile development as unacceptable, saying it threatens the international community.

Japan has also been criticizing North Korea's dispatch of troops to Ukraine every day.

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya says North Korea's dispatch worsens Ukraine's situation,

He said he would cooperate with the international community, including South Korea and the U.S., saying there is a risk of destabilizing the international community.

At the same time, he reiterated that he is willing to talk to North Korea to resolve the abduction issue.

[Iwaya Takeshi / Japanese Foreign Minister: Based on the Pyongyang Declaration between North Korea and Japan, we would like to settle the unfortunate past and normalize diplomatic relations between North Korea and Japan by comprehensively resolving the abduction and nuclear missiles.]

Earlier, Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his desire for a summit between North Korea and Japan, mentioning the establishment of a liaison office between North Korea and Japan despite opposition from the families of the abductees.

Prime Minister Ishiba is expected to focus on discussing related countermeasures against North Korea at the APEC summit from the 15th to the 16th.

Above all, whether Ishiba's cabinet will remain the same in the presidential election on the 11th is expected to be a major crisis that will continue the current diplomatic stance stably.

I'm Kim Se-ho from YTN in Tokyo.