North Korean government officially rejected any further conversation with Japan, given the fact that current Japanese administration tried to reach out to North Korea numerous time. Despite the effective measure from Japanese leaders, top officials from North Korean government showed no more interests in further dialogues. How should we access current political ambition from Japan to the North Korean government? Is Japan paving the way for US's foreign policy? How should China play a role in this "hot mess?"

Jenny Town is a Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center and the Director of Stimson’s 38 North Program. Her expertise is in North Korea, US-DPRK relations, US-ROK alliance and Northeast Asia regional security. Ms. Town is also an expert reviewer for Freedom House’s Freedom in the World Index, where she previously worked on the Human Rights in North Korea Project.