An 84-year-old war-displaced Japanese woman still living in North Korea expressed hope Wednesday to visit the grave of her parents in Japan, amid a stalemate in talks between the two countries.
"I hope (North) Korea and Japan will be close countries," Ruriko Arai also said at her home in North Korea's eastern coastal city of Hamhung, where she has lived since her teens, when asked if she has anything she wants to request of the Japanese government.
Her remarks made to Japanese media outlets — a transcript of which was provided to Kyodo News — come as North Korea has hinted at its willingness to resume communications with Japan on certain humanitarian issues.