North Korea leader's message to Japan on quake sparks hope for dialogue

A rare message from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Japan expressing sympathy for the powerful earthquake on New Year's Day has raised speculation that Pyongyang may be signaling its openness to dialogue after showing no interest in Tokyo's aspiration to hold a bilateral summit.As the Japanese government assesses the intention behind the message addressed to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday, one official was optimistic, saying it "may be a sign."In the hope of a breakthrough in the long-standing issue of Pyongyang's past abduction of Japanese nationals, Kishida has vowed to advance…READ FULL ARTICLE