Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will look to hold informal talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong on Aug. 10 on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum to be held in Myanmar, government sources said Sunday.
Kishida has opted for informal talks with Ri, rather than a formal meeting, apparently in consideration of the United States and South Korea, as Japan's approach to North Korea could disturb trilateral coordination to rein in Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs, the sources said.
Japan has notified North Korea of its intention to arrange informal talks between Kishida and Ri, a close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a source close to bilateral relations said. North Korea is expected to accept the suggestion.