[USFK Forums] North Korea -Japan talks to resume [BBC]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Thursday, December 22, 2005

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North Korea-Japan talks to resume

Japan has said it will resume bilateral talks with North Korea on Saturday.
Delegates will meet in China to discuss the fate of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 80s, Japan's foreign ministry said.

The two nations are also likely to talk about possible reparations for Japan's colonial rule in North Korea, as well as Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

But Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe made clear that the fate of the abductees would top the agenda.
"I want to make clear that without a resolution of the abduction issue, there will be no normalising of Japan-North Korea ties," Mr Abe said.


JAPAN'S MISSING

Snatched in the '70s and '80s
Used as cultural trainers for N Korean spies
Five allowed home in 2002
Five children now freed from N Korea
Eight said to be dead, others missing


"We'll urge Pyongyang to deal with the abduction issue sincerely by returning abductees, unveiling the truth and handing over suspects."

North Korea has admitted kidnapping 13 Japanese to train as spies, and has already repatriated five of those kidnapped, saying the eight others are dead.

But Tokyo says Pyongyang has never provided conclusive proof of their deaths, and many Japanese suspect some of them may still be alive.

Compensation demand

According to Japan's statement on Wednesday, Tokyo's chief delegate Akitaka Saiki will meet with Song Il-ho from Pyongyang for a weekend of talks.

The bilateral discussions will be the second in little over a month, after they resumed following a one-year gap.

In the last negotiations, in November, the two sides made little progress, with the North demanding compensation for Japanese occupation during the first half of the 20th century, and Tokyo continuing to ask questions about the abduction issue.

Japan has repeatedly offered financial aid to North Korea, but says the offer is only available after diplomatic relations are established.

Japan gave South Korea $500m when the two countries normalised ties in 1965.