Kim and Mori to Discuss Mutual Aid During Kim's Three-Day Visit

President Kim Dae-jung and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori are expected to join efforts in their relations with North Korea during Kim's three-day state visit to Japan.

Kim and Mori meet at the hot springs resort of Atami near Tokyo for two rounds of summit talks.

Mori is likely to ask for Kim's advice on breaking the lull in Japan's effort to normalize relations with the North, a Seoul government official said Thursday.

"There is a possibility that Prime Minister Mori may ask President Kim to help reopen Japan-North Korea summit talks, which stalled due to Kim Yong-nam's cancelled trip to the United States," the official said.

North Korea's titular head of state, Kim Yong-nam, cancelled his trip to the U.N. Millennium Summit early this month in protest of an excessive security check by American Airlines in Frankfurt.

Japan's possible food aid to the North through the World Food Program may well be discussed.

For his part, President Kim will push for economic cooperation with Japan as South Korea's economic prospects look dim. Insiders said that Japan has tentatively promised to invest $7 billion in the components and materials industry over the next two and a half years. In addition, Kim is expected to actively pursue expansion of investment from Japan in his meetings with Japanese business leaders.

The two countries are also expected to sign a bilateral investment treaty by the end of the year. In addition, the two leaders will adopt an initiative for stronger cooperation in the information and technology sector.

Kim will push for suffrage in local elections for ethnics Koreans living in Japan. Kim leaves for Japan today with first lady Lee Hee-ho.

by Kim Jin-kook