Lawmaker Inoki heads to Pyongyang

TOKYO: Japanese wrestler-turned-lawmaker Antonio Inoki headed for North Korea on yesterday to possibly meet with the country’s top official in charge of foreign affairs, amid deepening tensions over its nuclear and missile programmes.

Mr Inoki, an independent lawmaker who has developed close ties with North Korea, said he is planning to talk with Ri Su-yong, known as a trusted confidant of leader Kim Jong-un, when he spoke to the press at Beijing’s international airport before leaving for Pyongyang.

Mr Ri, a vice-chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea, was formerly foreign minister, and is now regarded as the country’s top official responsible for external affairs.

The Japanese government has expressed concern over Mr Inoki’s visit, which comes after North Korea’s sixth and by far most powerful to date nuclear test last Sunday.

The 74-year-old House of Councillors member, who does not belong to any political party, said he thinks it necessary to maintain lines of communication with North Korea, even at a time when many countries are trying to push it into a corner over its defiant pursuit of nuclear and missile programmes.

The trip is set to coincide with the 69th anniversary of North Korea’s founding on Saturday.

The international community is bracing for another possible provocation by Pyongyang around the celebration.

The former wrestling star last visited North Korea a year ago also for its national foundation day, when its fifth nuclear test was conducted.

During the previous visit, Mr Inoki held talks with senior North Korean officials, including the vice chairman of the ruling party, who was the country’s ambassador to Switzerland when Mr Kim was studying at an international school in the European country in the 1990s and is known for being his guardian during the period.