Biden says he backs Japan’s outreach to North Korea and says he’s still open to talks with Kim

President Joe Biden says Japan’s efforts to set up a leader-to-leader summit with North Korea are “a good thing,” and reiterated his administration’s willingness to hold talks of its own without preconditions.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Japan’s efforts to set up a leader-to-leader summit with North Korea are “a good thing,” and reiterated his administration’s willingness to hold talks of its own without preconditions.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Biden used the Japanese leader’s official visit to Washington to highlight strengthened defense and intelligence ties to tackle threats from North Korea and China. The US blessing on possible talks between Japan and North Korea comes as its own efforts to reopen the line of communication with Pyongyang have gone unanswered.

“We welcome our allies’ opportunity to initiate dialogue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” Biden said during a Rose Garden news conference with Kishida. “As I have said many times, we are open to dialogue without preconditions with the DPRK.”

For his part, Kishida said: “The window of discussion with North Korea is open. He added: “Establishing a meaningful relationship between Japan and North Korea is in the interests of both Japan and North Korea and could be immensely beneficial to peace and stability in the region.”

The Biden administration has repeatedly expressed openness to talks with Kim since taking office in 2021, but has never received a response. Kim and former President Donald Trump held a trio of meetings during his presidency, which did little to curb North Korea’s advancing nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Both Biden and Kishida said any talks must lead to a quick resolution to the issue of Japanese abductees kidnapped by North Korea.