NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed condolences to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida amid ongoing efforts to find potential survivors of a magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck Japan’s west coast on January 1.
North Korea’s state news agency said that Kim offered Kishida his deep sympathy over the deaths and losses caused by the earthquakes at the start of the year.
The North Korean leader also expressed hope that the affected areas will be able to recover soon.
Recovery efforts to find hundreds of missing people are underway while the death toll from the devastating earthquake has exceeded 100.
To recall, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il sent $500,000 worth of aid to Korean residents who were affected by a devastating quake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan in 2011.
North Korea and Japan have no diplomatic while the rare expression of sympathy was Kim’s first message to Kishida.
The North Korean leader also offered a message of sympathy to Iran after a suicide bombing attack killed dozens of people last week.
