In 1986, then-Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone told Chinese government heavyweight Hu Yaobang that Japan was prepared to trade with North Korea, according to Japanese diplomatic records declassified Wednesday.
Despite a lack of diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Pyongyang, Nakasone told Hu that Japan was prepared for bilateral trade, according to the records.
Nakasone also aimed to help improve relations between China and South Korea at the same time, the document states, showing how Nakasone tried to leverage his friendly relationship with Hu to work with China in pursuit of peace on the Korean Peninsula.