"If North Korea solves the problems of nuclear and missile programs, as well as the problem of kidnapped and forcibly held Japanese citizens, Japan will be ready for normalization of diplomatic relations and offering economic assistance to North Korea," Kono said at a press conference ahead of his upcoming visit to the United States.
Kono noted that his visit to the United States would last from June 6 to June 9 and would be devoted to clarifying the Japanese-US bilateral agenda in light of the upcoming US-North Korea summit.
READ MORE: Japan Defense Chief Warns Against Rewarding North Korea for Willingness to Talk
The past several months have seen a surge in diplomatic activity on the Korean Peninsula with officials from China, Japan, Russia, North Korea, South Korea, and the United States meeting to discuss the issues related to de-nuclearization of Pyongyang.