Japanese Official to Visit N. Korea

Taku Yamasaki, the former vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, will visit North Korea on January 9.

Analysis from the political world says that his visit to North Korea is to pave the way for former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi’s 3rd visit to North Korea.

Japanese Legislator Yamasaki met with Wu Dawei, the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, on January 8 before visiting North Korea, and he will stay in Pyongyang for 4 or 5 days.

Legislator Kasei Hirasawa, who has met with senior politicians of North Korea along with Taku Yamasaki, said, “Twice in last December, the legislator Yamasaki requested former prime minister Koizumi to visit North Korea, and Koizumi has given a positive response to the 3rd visit to North Korea.”

iam@donga.com