Kim Jong Un admits missile launches are against Washington’s attitude

Fujimoto Kenji (photo), former chef of late Kim Jong Il (Kim Jong Un’s father) revealed on Tuesday that Kim Jong Un has admitted having no real intentions to trigger a war, but the recent missile launches were a response to aggressive requests by the United States.

Mr. Fujimoto said as such in an interview with the Mainichi newspaper about his visit to Pyongyang between April 12 and April 23. He had just come back to Japan on Monday, via Beijing, China. He confirmed that Kim’s comments came out during a 3-hour long banquet with his sister Kim Yo Jong, vice president of the Labor Party, Choi Ryong Hae, Labor Party secretary, and more.

His comments were made immediately after the National Defense Commission’s statement on April 3, showing intentions to resume dialogues with the U.S. for the first time since the new United Nations Security Council's sanctions were imposed. If Fujimoto is telling the truth, Kim seems to be interested in rebuilding relationships with Washington. Meanwhile, it could also be an attempt to pass the blame for his recent provocations to the U.S.

도쿄=장원재특파원 peacechaos@donga.com