Japan, N.Korea hold first government-level talks since 2012 in Beijing

Source:Agencies-Global Times Published: 2014-3-31 1:28:01

Junichi Ihara (4th from left), Japanese foreign ministry director general, talks to North Korea's ambassador, Song Il-ho (4th from right) for talks to normalize relations with Japan at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing on Sunday. Photo: AFP



Japan and North Korea on Sunday held the first formal government-level talks since 2012 following a shift in Pyongyang's handling of past abductions of Japanese citizens.

The two-day meeting in Beijing came after diplomats held informal talks on the sidelines of a humanitarian conference in the Chinese city of Shenyang between Red Cross officials from the two countries earlier this month.

"We would like to have serious and frank discussions over a broad range of outstanding issues for both sides," Junichi Ihara, head of the Japanese foreign ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, told Japanese broadcaster NHK. 

At the North Korean Embassy, the venue of the first day of the meeting, Song Il-ho, North Korea's ambassador for talks to normalize relations with Japan, expressed hope that relations between the two countries will start moving "in a positive direction," the Kyodo news agency reported.

The meeting comes amid recent mixed signals from Pyongyang over its willingness to re-engage in diplomacy.

Talks were suspended in 2012 when Tokyo reiterated its demand that Pyongyang come clean on the abduction issue. The talks were officially called off in December 2012 when Pyongyang launched a long-range missile, drawing international condemnation.

Also on Sunday, North Korea vowed not to rule out a "new form" of nuclear test  if the United States continues its hostile policy towards Pyongyang.

The announcement came after the UN Security Council condemned its latest ballistic missile launch amid simmering tensions over neighbor South Korea's joint military drills with the US.

South Korea also warned after the North Korean announcement that if the North Korea would conduct another nuclear test, Pyongyang will have to pay the price for it.



Posted in: Asia-Pacific

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