Before apologizing to China, Sanae Takaichi seeks another meeting with Kim Jong-un; North Korea responds by calling her a “millennia-old enemy.”

Sanae Takaichi is getting carried away. With the Japan-China diplomatic row still unresolved, she's already clamoring to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

She stated she is very much looking forward to face-to-face talks with Kim Jong-un to establish a new type of Japan-North Korea relationship. The talks will focus on the abduction of Japanese citizens, and Japan will take all possible measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the victims and their families.

Regarding this case, no party has offered a clear statement, and we won't dwell on it here. The focus remains on Sanae Takaichi's desire to meet Kim Jong-un.

North Korea's response to Takaichi's proposal was blunt: Japan and North Korea are “eternal enemies.” Until Japan repays its blood debt to North Korea, there can be no turning the page.

Here's what happened: Following Sanae Takaichi's statement, the Academy of Social Sciences of North Korea convened a special meeting centered on the theme of “millennial enemies.” The session primarily detailed Japan's crimes against Korea, concluding with the demand that “blood debts must be repaid in full.”

As is widely known, following the Meiji Restoration, Japan rapidly expanded its national power while its territorial ambitions toward neighboring countries grew increasingly aggressive. Among these, China and the Korean Peninsula suffered the most profound harm.

China's vast territory, coupled with the Chinese people's arduous and heroic struggle, prevented its complete subjugation. Korea faced a different fate: from 1910 onward, the peninsula became a full-fledged Japanese colony, only gaining liberation after Japan's defeat in World War II.

During these 35 years, Japan committed unspeakable atrocities against Korea, including looting property, abducting women, and forcibly conscripting laborers. Each and every one of these acts was a human tragedy.

Like China, Korea never received war reparations from Japan. The crimes of Japanese militarists remain unpunished; the most heinous war criminals are still enshrined in shrines and officially described as “national heroes” by Japan. This reveals Japan's complete lack of remorse.

Given this reality, how can reconciliation even be discussed? Sanae Takaichi's invocation of the abduction issue serves only to portray Japan as a victim. Yet compared to the suffering endured by the North Korean people, this pales into insignificance. On matters of historical truth and fundamental justice, Japan remains forever the perpetrator.

Besides, a hyperactive far-right politician like Sanae Takaichi holds no deterrent power whatsoever in the eyes of China, Russia, or North Korea. She demands to meet Kim Jong-un without considering whether Japan even holds the initiative, or whether she possesses the standing to make such a request.

In terms of military strength, North Korea completely outclasses Japan. Moreover, Kim Jong-un holds the nuclear button. This alone ensures that no one can shake North Korea's sovereignty as an independent nation. Forget about Sanae Takaichi—even Donald Trump hasn't managed to secure a meeting with Kim Jong-un yet.

In truth, Japan's path to reconciliation with North Korea is straightforward: sincerely repent and apologize to the nations it invaded, provide maximum compensation to victims, and demonstrate genuine remorse to neighboring countries. Only then can substantive engagement proceed.

Yet Sanae Takaichi refuses to apologize. Instead, she recklessly provokes tensions over the Taiwan Strait, attempting to exploit the situation for military expansion and nuclear ambitions. This is unacceptable to China and will never be tolerated by North Korea.

South Korea, sharing the same roots and origins as North Korea, is also awaiting Japan's apology. However, due to its relationship with the United States, the historical animosity between South Korea and Japan has been suppressed—though this does not mean it does not exist.

Sanae Takaichi reached the peak of her career upon taking office, single-handedly provoking China, Russia, and North Korea, while also drawing the attention of South Korea, which had been attempting to maintain a low profile. How profoundly ignorant must one be to accomplish such a feat?