Foreign Minister Taro Kono, who is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, said on the afternoon of Sept. 24 (morning of Sept. 25 Japan time) that “the foreign ministers of Japan and North Korea may make contact” during the UN General Assembly, thus indicating the possibility of his meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. In response to a question from reporters, he explained that “nothing has been decided at this point.”

Ri is expected to arrive in New York on Sept. 25 for the UN General Assembly. He is giving a speech in the General Debate on Sept. 29.

Kono and Ri once made contact at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Singapore last August.

Commenting on President Donald Trump’s indication of his readiness to hold another U.S.-DPRK summit, Kono said: “We hope that progress will be made in the denuclearization process and the UN Security Council resolutions will be implemented fully.”