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
