Some members of the U.S. administration are concerned Tokyo will give the impression that it is rewarding Pyongyang in return for progress on the question of Japanese allegedly abducted by North Korea, a senior U.S. official said Friday.
Large-scale food assistance may be offered at a summit scheduled for Tuesday between the two nations.
"For Japan's own interest as well as for our respective interest in North Korea," Tokyo must be careful about the impression it could create if it provides food assistance while making progress on the missing Japanese nationals, the official said.
"It reflects some type of thinking in this administration," said the official, who asked not to be named. "It's not misgivings, but just a sort of thinking.