KYODO NEWS - Sep 7, 2017 - 19:58 | World, All

Japanese wrestler-turned-lawmaker Antonio Inoki arrived in North Korea on Thursday to possibly meet with the country's top official in charge of foreign affairs, amid deepening tensions over its nuclear and missile programs.

Inoki, an independent lawmaker who has developed uniquely close ties with North Korea, said he is planning to hold talks with Ri Su Yong, known as a trusted confidant of leader Kim Jong Un, when he spoke to the press at Beijing's international airport before leaving for Pyongyang.

Ri, a vice chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, formerly served as foreign minister and is now regarded as the country's top official responsible for external affairs.

The Japanese government has expressed concern over Inoki's visit, which comes after North Korea's sixth and by far most powerful to date nuclear test last Sunday.

The 74-year-old House of Councillors member, who does not belong to any political party, said he thinks it necessary to maintain lines of communication with North Korea, even at a time when many countries are trying to push it into a corner over its defiant pursuit of nuclear and missile programs.

"I don't care about any criticism," Inoki, donning his trademark red muffler, told Kyodo News.

The trip is set to coincide with the 69th anniversary of North Korea's founding on Saturday. The international community is bracing for another possible provocation by Pyongyang around the celebration.

The former pro-wrestling star, whose real first name is Kanji, last visited North Korea one year ago also for its national foundation day, when its fifth nuclear test was conducted.

During the previous visit, Inoki held talks with senior North Korean officials, including the vice chairman of the ruling party, who was the country's ambassador to Switzerland when Kim was studying at an international school in the European country in the 1990s and is known for being his guardian during the period.

This is Inoki's 32nd visit to Pyongyang, and he said one of the trip's other main purposes is to help promote "sports exchanges" between Japan and North Korea, which have never established diplomatic relations.