The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
North Korea
Sat, February 27, 2021 | 07:14
Why North Korea excludes Japan from onsite nuclear inspection
Posted : 2018-05-14 15:43
Updated : 2018-05-14 17:38
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Japanese media's reporting on North Korea's denuclearization on April 22. North Korea announced it was willing to denuclearize the day before. / Yonhap
Japanese media's reporting on North Korea's denuclearization on April 22. North Korea announced it was willing to denuclearize the day before. / Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

Japan has been sidelined from the ongoing peace process and North Korea's denuclearization effort.

The latest development is the North's decision to keep Japanese media out during the dismantling of the Punggye-ri nuclear site, planned for May 23 to 25.

The North's foreign ministry said North Korea would invite journalists from six countries, including five member countries of the six-party talks, except Japan. The U.K. is on the list instead.

Japanese media have remained calm.

"Japanese media have responded to North Korea's announcement very calmly by just reporting this news," said Kosuke Takahashi, Tokyo correspondent of IHS Jane's Defence Weekly.

Japanese media's reporting on North Korea's denuclearization on April 22. North Korea announced it was willing to denuclearize the day before. / Yonhap
Kosuke Takahashi, Tokyo correspondent for IHS Jane's Defence Weekly.

"At least one thing is evident. Prime Minister Abe has always said Japan will maintain pressure against North Korea unless it solves the abduction, nuclear and missile issues," Takahashi said.

"North Korea is now using its talks with South Korea, the U.S and China to shake Japan's tough posture against Pyongyang. It seems North Korea is now trying to shake Japan by such a divisive tactic."

Another reporter with a Japanese newspaper said the North Korean media's ongoing attacks on Japan signaled their interest in talks with the country.

"North Korea has been continually saying it hates Japan, but it paradoxically shows they are certainly interested in Japan's economic aid," the reporter said on condition of anonymity.

"However, because it is too early to talk with Japan directly, North Korea keeps criticizing and excluding Japan, in its attempt to make a situation where Japan wants to propose talks first."

Abe has been relegated to the role of asking President Moon Jae-in to pressure the North to address the issue of Japanese abductees and has pleaded with U.S. President Donald Trump to push for the complete denuclearization of the North.

The North added insult to injury on Japan's diplomatic isolation, when it talked about "Japan passing" in its mouthpiece Rodong Sinmun on May 6.

"There is no place for Japan, not even for a shadow, at the table where the fate of the Korean Peninsula is being discussed," read the commentary. "No one asks Japan to sit around the table."


Park Ji-won contributed reporting.


Emaildamin.jung@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
Fate of 10,000 Pyongyang nuclear scientists up in the air
North Korea has taken to the road to complete denuclearization - at least superficially - after announcing it would demolish its nuclear test site in front of invited international...









 
 
  • 12-year-old boy accused of terrorist threat at Incheon airport
  • Korea begins mass vaccination
  • Non-Korean victims, scholars, civic groups join protest against Ramseyer's paper on sex slavery
  • Gov't to provide 'COVID-19 vaccine certificate'
  • Attorney insists sexual assault allegations against Ki Sung-yueng are true
  • Artist, feminists at loggerheads over sex doll artwork at MMCA
  • Dwindling population's impact on the Korean stock market?
  • First day of Korea's mass vaccination drive [PHOTOS]
  • Korea to extend current social distancing measures for 2 weeks
  • US court orders North Korea to pay $2.3 billion over 1968 USS Pueblo seizure
  • Premiere of 'Dear. M' postponed after Park hye-su accused of bullying Premiere of 'Dear. M' postponed after Park hye-su accused of bullying
  • Ex-T-ara singer Soyeon's stalker under probe for trespassing on her home Ex-T-ara singer Soyeon's stalker under probe for trespassing on her home
  • Netflix to invest $500 million in Korea in 2021 Netflix to invest $500 million in Korea in 2021
  • Netflix shows confidence in streaming war, unveils must-watch original series Netflix shows confidence in streaming war, unveils must-watch original series
  • Lady Gaga's dog walker shot; the star offers $500,000 reward to find her stolen French bulldogs Lady Gaga's dog walker shot; the star offers $500,000 reward to find her stolen French bulldogs
DARKROOM
  • Earth is suffering

    Earth is suffering

  • NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

    NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

  • Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

    Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

  • Our children deserve better: Part 3

    Our children deserve better: Part 3

  • Mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign starts: Part 2

    Mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign starts: Part 2

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • 고충처리인
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright