TOKYO. March 15 (Interfax) - Japan welcomes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's readiness to hold talks with the United States, but will not ease sanctions pressure on Pyongyang, a Japanese Foreign Ministry source told Interfax.
"Japan welcomes the changes in the policy of the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] and the start of dialogue in this region. We see such steps by Pyongyang [the launch of dialogue with South Korea and the invitation to the U.S. president to hold a meeting] as a consequence of the joint efforts and work undertaken by Japan, the U.S. and South Korea," he said.
"At this stage, it is necessary to continue exerting sanctions pressure on the DPRK and bring it to the maximum," he said.
"Pyongyang's willingness to engage in dialogue with [U.S. President Donald] Trump is a result of this pressure. Therefore, the sanctions pressure cannot be eased," the source said.