North Korea said on Tuesday (March 26) that it is not interested in a summit with Japan and would reject any talks, according to state media KCNA, potentially worsening already-hostile relations between the two countries.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stated that Japan had requested a summit without preconditions, which she would only embrace if Japan demonstrated readiness to a fresh beginning unfettered by past obsessions.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gps-jamming-spoofing-plague-commercial-aircraft-across-europe-report-reveals-704394">GPS jamming, spoofing plague commercial aircraft across Europe, report says</a>

Bilateral ties have been tense due to various issues, including the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea in the early 2000s, Japan's occupation of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945, and its history of forced labour and sexual slavery.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida refused to directly respond to Kim's comments, telling reporters late on Tuesday that Japan would continue its efforts to resolve issues with North Korea based on existing policies.

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After Japan brought up the subject of the kidnapped Japanese nationals and Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes, Kim declared that Tokyo had "no courage at all" to alter history.

In a statement made public by KCNA, Kim stated, "This is proven by Japan's attitude clinging to the unattainable issues which can never be settled and have nothing to be settled."

She singled out remarks by Japan's top government spokesperson, Yoshimasa Hayashi, that the North's claim that the abduction issue had been resolved was "totally unacceptable."

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North Korea admitted in 2002 to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens decades earlier. Five abductees later returned to Japan, saying the others had died.&nbsp;

In 2002, North Korea acknowledged that it had abducted 13 Japanese nationals decades earlier. Later, five of the abductees returned to Japan, claiming that others had died.

However, Tokyo maintains its belief that 17 Japanese were kidnapped and keeps looking into what happened to those who did not return.

Accusing Kishida of using bilateral ties as "political calculations," Kim said her country would reject any talks with Tokyo.

(With inputs from agencies)

North Korea said on Tuesday (March 26) that it is not interested in a summit with Japan and would reject any talks, according to state media KCNA, potentially worsening already-hostile relations between the two countries.

North Korea said on Tuesday (March 26) that it is not interested in a summit with Japan and would reject any talks, according to state media KCNA, potentially worsening already-hostile relations between the two countries. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stated that Japan had requested a summit without preconditions, which she would only embrace if Japan demonstrated readiness to a fresh beginning unfettered by past obsessions. Also read: GPS jamming, spoofing plague commercial aircraft across Europe, report says Bilateral ties have been tense due to various issues, including the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea in the early 2000s, Japan's occupation of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945, and its history of forced labour and sexual slavery. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida refused to directly respond to Kim's comments, telling reporters late on Tuesday that Japan would continue its efforts to resolve issues with North Korea based on existing policies. Also read: North Korea claims progress in hypersonic missile After Japan brought up the subject of the kidnapped Japanese nationals and Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes, Kim declared that Tokyo had "no courage at all" to alter history. In a statement made public by KCNA, Kim stated, "This is proven by Japan's attitude clinging to the unattainable issues which can never be settled and have nothing to be settled." She singled out remarks by Japan's top government spokesperson, Yoshimasa Hayashi, that the North's claim that the abduction issue had been resolved was "totally unacceptable." Also read: Japan PM Kishida to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un North Korea admitted in 2002 to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens decades earlier. Five abductees later returned to Japan, saying the others had died. In 2002, North Korea acknowledged that it had abducted 13 Japanese nationals decades earlier. Later, five of the abductees returned to Japan, claiming that others had died. However, Tokyo maintains its belief that 17 Japanese were kidnapped and keeps looking into what happened to those who did not return. Accusing Kishida of using bilateral ties as "political calculations," Kim said her country would reject any talks with Tokyo. (With inputs from agencies)

Kim Jong Un’s sister says North Korea not interested in summit with Japan

A "unspecified ballistic missile" was shot by North Korea, according to the military in Seoul. Although the missile's specifics were unknown, Japan wrongly believed it would approach the island after it was launched, leading to an evacuation order for residents of the northern island of Hokkaido, which was later revoked, according to news agency Reuters.

North Korea fires ballistic missile, Japan lodges protest

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-test-fires-rockets-in-thanksgiving-reminder-of-year-end-deadline-for-us-265157">North Korea </a>on Saturday warned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he could soon see a "real ballistic missile" while excoriating him as the "most stupid man ever known in history".

The colourful condemnation comes two days after the isolated state tested what it called a "super-large multiple launch rocket system", with South Korea reporting that two projectiles came down in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.&nbsp;

In the wake of the launch, which was supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Abe termed the fired weapons "ballistic missiles" that violated UN resolutions.&nbsp;

"It can be said that Abe is the only one idiot in the world and the most stupid man ever known in history as he fails to distinguish a missile from multiple launch rocket system while seeing the photo-accompanied report," a foreign ministry official said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA.&nbsp;

"Abe may see what a real ballistic missile is in the not distant future and under his nose... &nbsp;Abe is none other than a perfect imbecile," it added.

It was best for the North to avoid dealing with Abe, the official went on, adding that doing so with a "political dwarf" would bring "disgrace".&nbsp;

The Saturday criticism of the Japanese leader is the second of its kind by Pyongyang this month.&nbsp;

The North had slammed him as an "idiot and villain" and warned he will never set foot in Pyongyang after he condemned the North's weapons test days earlier.&nbsp;

Pyongyang is under multiple sets of international sanctions over its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, which it says it needs to defend against a possible US invasion.

Nuclear negotiations between the US and the North have been at a standstill since the Hanoi summit between President Donald Trump and leader Kim Jong Un broke up in February, and Pyongyang has since demanded Washington change its approach by the end of the year.&nbsp;

North Korea has issued a series of increasingly assertive comments in recent weeks as time runs down on its end-of-year deadline.

Trump hinted at the prospect of a fourth meeting with Kim in a tweet earlier this month, only to be rebuffed by the North, which said it had no interest in summits "that bring nothing to us". 
&nbsp;

North Korea on Saturday warned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he could soon see a "real ballistic missile" while excoriating him as the "most stupid man ever known in history".

North Korea on Saturday warned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he could soon see a "real ballistic missile" while excoriating him as the "most stupid man ever known in history". The colourful condemnation comes two days after the isolated state tested what it called a "super-large multiple launch rocket system", with South Korea reporting that two projectiles came down in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. In the wake of the launch, which was supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Abe termed the fired weapons "ballistic missiles" that violated UN resolutions. "It can be said that Abe is the only one idiot in the world and the most stupid man ever known in history as he fails to distinguish a missile from multiple launch rocket system while seeing the photo-accompanied report," a foreign ministry official said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. "Abe may see what a real ballistic missile is in the not distant future and under his nose... Abe is none other than a perfect imbecile," it added. It was best for the North to avoid dealing with Abe, the official went on, adding that doing so with a "political dwarf" would bring "disgrace". The Saturday criticism of the Japanese leader is the second of its kind by Pyongyang this month. The North had slammed him as an "idiot and villain" and warned he will never set foot in Pyongyang after he condemned the North's weapons test days earlier. Pyongyang is under multiple sets of international sanctions over its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, which it says it needs to defend against a possible US invasion. Nuclear negotiations between the US and the North have been at a standstill since the Hanoi summit between President Donald Trump and leader Kim Jong Un broke up in February, and Pyongyang has since demanded Washington change its approach by the end of the year. North Korea has issued a series of increasingly assertive comments in recent weeks as time runs down on its end-of-year deadline. Trump hinted at the prospect of a fourth meeting with Kim in a tweet earlier this month, only to be rebuffed by the North, which said it had no interest in summits "that bring nothing to us".

North Korea blasts Japan's Shinzo Abe, warns of 'real ballistic missile'

The North Korean missiles that crashed into the Sea of Japan early Monday (March 6) was a training exercise to launch assaults on US bases in Japan.

Pyongyang&#39;s official KCNA news agency said North leader Kin Jong-Un himself gave the order for the firing of the projectiles, a development that caused turbulence in East Asia and the United States.

On Monday, South Korea&#39;s military and later Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had confirmed that the North test-fired four missiles, three of which crashed into Tokyo&#39;s waters that are part of an exclusive economic zone.

North Korea&#39;s continuance in their missile-testing policy flies in the face of rigorous sanctions imposed by the United Nations.

Pyongyang is barred by the UN from using any kind of ballistic missile technology.

But nuclear-armed North Korea has launched about five nuclear missiles in the last decade and about 20 ballistic missiles since 2015, according to a report in New York Times.

North&#39;s latest act of defiance has vexed South Korea and the US, who have sought an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

Pyongyang had test-fired another missile just days after US President Donald Trump assumed power in Washington, a provocative action that had tested the incoming US administration&#39;s mettle.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer later on Monday said North Korea poses a &quot;very serious threat&quot;, adding the Trump administration was taking steps to &quot;enhance our ability to defend against North Korea&#39;s ballistic missiles&quot;.

One of the measures include deployment of a missile defence system called THAAD in South Korea.

Kim Jong-Un has repeatedly spelled his desire of developing an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) that can strike mainland United States.

In his 2017 New Year&#39;s address, Kim had said the development of an ICBM was in its &quot;final stages&quot;.

But Trump has insisted that the US would not let Pyongyang develop such a projectile.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency said North Korea leader Kin Jong-Un gave the order to fire himself

The North Korean missiles that crashed into the Sea of Japan early Monday (March 6) was a training exercise to launch assaults on US bases in Japan. Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency said North leader Kin Jong-Un himself gave the order for the firing of the projectiles, a development that caused turbulence in East Asia and the United States. On Monday, South Korea's military and later Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had confirmed that the North test-fired four missiles, three of which crashed into Tokyo's waters that are part of an exclusive economic zone. North Korea's continuance in their missile-testing policy flies in the face of rigorous sanctions imposed by the United Nations. Pyongyang is barred by the UN from using any kind of ballistic missile technology. But nuclear-armed North Korea has launched about five nuclear missiles in the last decade and about 20 ballistic missiles since 2015, according to a report in New York Times. North's latest act of defiance has vexed South Korea and the US, who have sought an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Pyongyang had test-fired another missile just days after US President Donald Trump assumed power in Washington, a provocative action that had tested the incoming US administration's mettle. White House spokesman Sean Spicer later on Monday said North Korea poses a "very serious threat", adding the Trump administration was taking steps to "enhance our ability to defend against North Korea's ballistic missiles". One of the measures include deployment of a missile defence system called THAAD in South Korea. Kim Jong-Un has repeatedly spelled his desire of developing an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) that can strike mainland United States. In his 2017 New Year's address, Kim had said the development of an ICBM was in its "final stages". But Trump has insisted that the US would not let Pyongyang develop such a projectile. (WION with inputs from AFP)

North Korea missile tests were training to attack US bases in Japan: Report