Japanese leader Takaichi says she would like to engage with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Thursday she has a “strong desire” to meet with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un to discuss the sensitive issue of decades-old kidnappings of Japanese nationals.

Mr. Takaichi outlined his views on the sidelines of his meetings with President Trump in Washington.

Members of Japan’s traveling press asked the prime minister if she wanted Mr. Trump to engage directly with Mr. Kim on the issue of kidnappings, a situation in which North Korean agents kidnapped Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s.

“Although I cannot go into details regarding the diplomatic exchanges, I conveyed to him my personal desire to meet Mr. Kim Jong-un directly,” she said. “We discussed this process. They agreed to cooperate in various ways.”

The kidnappings are an important diplomatic issue for Japan, which is struggling to determine the true number of people kidnapped and whether any of them are still alive.

Ms. Takaichi announced her intention to meet with Mr. Kim during a break between her meetings at the White House and a formal dinner with Mr. Trump on Thursday.

The main focus of his visit was the war in Iran and what Japan can do to help break the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes.

“I have clearly expressed Japan’s position on the need for a rapid resolution of the problem. [war] “We confirmed that Japan and the United States will continue to maintain close communication with a view to achieving peace and stability in the Middle East, including safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and stable energy supplies,” she said.

She also said Japan wanted to create a stockpile of crude oil purchased from the United States.