Pyongyang: Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has rejected calls for a summit with Japan, stating that Tokyo must abandon what she described as 'anachronistic practices' before any leaders-level talks can take place. Her comments were made in a statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), highlighting the conditions under which North Korea would consider diplomatic engagement with Japan.

According to Anadolu Agency, the rejection from Kim Yo Jong came after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed her desire to meet Kim Jong Un, a move that was supported by Washington. Kim Yo Jong, however, dismissed this possibility, emphasizing that North Korea would not engage if Japan continues to pursue what she termed as a 'unilateral' issue. She firmly stated that North Korean state leadership had no intention of meeting with the Japanese prime minister if Japan persisted with its current approach.

The core of the disagreement is Japan's claim that North Korea abducted its citizens during the 1970s and 1980s, an issue that Tokyo has been eager to resolve through dialogue. Japan officially lists 17 people as abducted during that period, with five repatriated in October 2002 following talks between then-North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Despite these efforts, no significant progress has been made since.

Currently, Japan and North Korea do not have formal diplomatic ties, and Pyongyang maintains that the abduction issue has already been resolved. Kim Yo Jong further criticized Japan for adhering to what she called outdated thinking, stating, "We have nothing to discuss with such a party that remains committed to obsolete thinking and unrealistic ideas." She also indicated her disapproval of any potential visit by Prime Minister Takaichi to Pyongyang, though she noted that this was her personal position.