Moon to Kim: 'Japan wants to normalize ties with North Korea'

By Park Si-soo

South Korean President Moon Jae-in relayed Japan's hopes of normalizing ties with North Korea during his talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Cheong Wa Dae said on Sunday.

Kim's reaction was unknown.

On top of this, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his gratitude to President Moon for addressing at last week's inter-Korean summit the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the North, the presidential office said.

Moon and Abe had telephone talks earlier in the day to discuss the result of Friday's summit.

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"President Moon talked about North Korea's abduction of Japanese people and the relations between Japan and North Korea during his summit with Chairman Kim Jong-un," Abe told reporters after the phone conversation. "I thank President Moon for his sincere effort."

He did not give details of what was discussed between the Korean leaders. Abe said he would try to ensure the coming U.S.-North Korea summit makes progress in resolving the issue.

Abe also said he and Moon agreed that the two countries will work together to have North Korea take concrete action for complete denuclearization.