Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe criticized U.S. presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry on Saturday over his policies on North Korea, despite having drawn fire from the opposition for similar remarks the day before.
Takebe dismissed complaints from opposition parties that making critical comments on the senator's policies may constitute interference with U.S. internal affairs.
Criticizing Kerry for advocating U.S.-North Korea bilateral negotiations, Takebe said in a speech on the streets of Niigata coast that "to negotiate over Japan's head on issues including (the North's) nuclear development would be exactly what North Korea wants."