Japan will offer more than ¥300 million ($2.8 million) to help the International Atomic Energy Agency inspect North Korea's nuclear facilities if Pyongyang agrees to inspections, government officials said.
The offer is aimed at prompting North Korea to take action to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Japan and the United States view IAEA inspections as the first step toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
It also offers Japan a way to remain relevant in the international response to North Korea following announcements that both the United States and South Korea plan to hold summits with the North.