Japan’s new foreign minister has a lot on his plate these days, with nuclear-armed North Korea firing missiles over his country and US President Donald Trump threatening retaliation.
However, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Kono is now wrestling with his toughest diplomatic challenge yet: his dad.
Kono, who took up the job just a month ago, was yesterday forced to fend off criticism from his retired politician father over Tokyo’s dealings with Pyongyang.
Japanese media leaped on the story, with the right-wing Sankei Shimbun carrying the headline “Father-son dispute?”
Yohei Kono — a former top government spokesman who made history in 1993 for his landmark apology over Japan’s use of sex slaves in World War II — criticized his son’s foreign policy, saying that there should be more cooperation with China to tackle North Korea’s saber rattling.
China is the North’s chief ally and is seen as perhaps the only country that could convince the reclusive state to give up its nuclear weapons and missile programs.
“I’m not satisfied that enough is being done politically,” the 80-year-old told reporters. “Japan, China and South Korea should unite and persuade North Korea... The US isn’t the only country that can contain the North.”
Asked about his son’s performance on the issue, Yohei Kono paused for an excruciating few seconds.
“Ummm... It’s difficult to comment,” he said, laughing.
Taro Kono brushed off his old man’s slight, insisting Tokyo’s policy was sound.
“Through foreign ministers’ meetings and telephone talks, we have shared with China and Russia a common recognition that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is our goal,” Kyodo News quoted him as telling reporters in New York.
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