Tokyo is maintaining behind-the-scenes contact with North Korea, Japan’s foreign minister said on Monday, continuing a trend from the latter stages of former prime minister Shinzo Abe’s leadership.

However, the comments — which were first reported by Reuters news agency — did not reveal what exactly the communication hoped to achieve.

“We are having various behind-the-scene communication with North Korea through not just our embassy in Beijing, but through other routes as well,” foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi reportedly said.

“Both former prime minister [Shinzo] Abe and Prime Minister [Yoshihide] Suga have said they are ready to hold face-to-face talks with