Kuala Lumpur, Oct 29: Japan and North Korea resumed talks aimed at normalizing relations today with Tokyo pressing Pyongyang to quickly respond to concerns over nuclear weapons and the kidnapping of Japanese citizens. The ambassadors representing the two historic foes shook hands at the start of the two-day talks in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur but exchanged neither greetings nor smiles. The meeting comes amid new international concern over North Korea's quest for nuclear weapons, and Japan has warned that the normalization process will be broken off if Pyongyang refuses to scrap the program. "In particular, we would like to discuss kidnapping and security issues, including a nuclear issue, as the highest priorities at today's talks," Katsunari Suzuki, Japan's ambassador in charge of negotiations, said in opening remarks. "We would also like you to make your maximum efforts and cooperation for that goal," he told the head of the north Korean delegation, Pyongyang's roving ambassador Jong Thae-Hwa.
In reply, Jong said North Korea and Japan differ on many issues.


"There are differences of opinions over issues between the two countries," he said, in a voice hardly audible even to Japanese diplomats sitting across the table.

Bureau Report