Japan is moving to expedite negotiations on a peace treaty with North Korea, but it should be in no hurry at all. Famine-stricken North Korea has often asked foreign countries for food aid, and Japan has obliged by supplying a large amount of rice. There is no way of knowing if the Japanese-supplied rice has been distributed fairly among the North Koreans.
It is conceivable that a small elite group of the ruling Workers' Party has received generous supplies of rice and that most people still remain hungry. If so, Japan should not continue giving food aid to North Korea. I believe that if they are thankful for Japanese aid, North Koreans should provide information about the distribution of rice among the public.
Some North Korean leaders have reportedly described rice from Japan as "tribute." This is outrageous. Japan does not have a tributary relationship with North Korea and under no circumstances should be seen as paying tribute to that country.