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DPRK to let Japan abductee relatives leave
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-05-22 16:20
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed on Saturday to let
five family members of Japan abductees go to Japan, Japanese officials said.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (R) shakes hands with
N.Korean leader Kim Jong-il following their talks in Pyongyang May 22,
2004. Kim has agreed that all the relatives of Japanese abducted by
Pyongyang's agents decades ago can go to Japan, reports said on Saturday
after the leaders' summit. [Reuters] | The
agreement came after top leader of the DPRK Kim Jong-il and Japanese Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi held talks on normalizing relations and other
bilateral issues.
For its part, Japan agreed to extend 250,000 tons of food aid and 10 million
US dollars worth of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the DPRK.
Kim and Koizumi ended their talks at 12:35 local time (0335 GMT) in the
Daedonggang Guest House in the suburb of Pyongyang.
It is the second summit between Koizumi and Kim since the two leaders met in
Pyongyang in September 2002, when Koizumi launched a historic visit to the DPRK
and signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
Kiozumi, who is here for a one-day visit, will hold a press conference around
4"The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier that Koizumi'
meeting with Kim was intended to "restore the relations of confidence between
the two countries." Japan and the DPRK has not established diplomatic ties so
far.
Korean Peninsula free from nuclear weapons: Japanese PM
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Saturday that
it wants a Korean Peninsula free from nuclear weapons, visiting Japanese
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said.
Koizumi said the statement was made by the top leader of the DPRK, Kim
Jong-il, in talks with him.
Kim also said the DPRK is willing to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean
Peninsula through six-party talks, according to the Japanese prime
minister.
Earlier Saturday, Kim and Koizumi held an hour and a half talks on
normalizing relations and other bilateral issues in the morning.
In the meeting, the DPRK agreed to let five family members of
Japan abductees go to Japan, a move widely seen as a breakthrough in
relations between the two countries.
For its part, Japan agreed to extend 250,000 tons of food aid and 10
million US dollars worth of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the
DPRK.
It is the second summit between Koizumi and Kim since the two leaders
met in Pyongyang in September 2002, when Koizumi launched a historic visit
to the DPRK and signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier that Koizumi
meeting with Kim was intended to "restore the relations of confidence
between the two countries." Japan and the DPRK has not established
diplomatic ties so far.
DPRK sees meeting "historic event"
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Saturday
the just concluded meeting between its top leader Kim Jong-il and visiting
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is a "historic event" in the
bilateral relations.
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a
commentary, "The meeting and talks proceeded in a sincere and candid
atmosphere."
"The meeting and talks between the top leaders of the DPRK and Japan
mark an important and historic event in improving confidence, improving the
relations between the two countries and promoting peace and stability in
Asia and the rest of the world," said the commentary.
Earlier Saturday, Kim and Koizumi held here an hour and a half talks on
normalizing relations and other bilateral issues.
During the talks, Kim agreed to let five family members of Japan
abductees go to Japan, a move widely seen as a breakthrough in relations
between the two countries.
Kim also said DPRK wants a Korean Peninsula free from nuclear
weapons, and DPRK is willing to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean
Peninsula through six-party talks, according to the Japanese prime
minister.
For its part, Japan promised to extend 250,000 tons of food aid and 10
million US dollars worth of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the
DPRK.
Koizumi said that he would bring five of the family members back with
him to Tokyo on Saturday evening.
It is the second summit between Koizumi and Kim since the two leaders
met in Pyongyang in September 2002, when Koizumi launched a historic visit
to the DPRK and signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier that
Koizumi' meeting with Kim was intended to "restore the relations of
confidence between the two countries." Japan and the DPRK has not
established diplomatic ties so far.
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