Japan woos the North

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Japan woos the North

TOKYO -- The Japanese government has delivered an unprecedented message to North Korea via a diplomatic delegation, Japanese media reported Sunday. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reportedly assured that Tokyo is ready for serious talks to normalize the countries' strained diplomatic ties.

Senior Japanese Foreign Ministry officials opened the first high-level government talks in two years on Sunday in Pyeongyang.

Mr. Koizumi's message was given to the North Korean Premier Hong Sung-nam Saturday by Hitoshi Tanaka, director general of Asian affairs at the Japanese Foreign Ministry. It is the first time a Japanese leader has de-livered an official message to a North Korean leader by government channel.

"We are ready to enter a serious dialogue with North Korea on the outstanding issues between the two countries, including a step to mend the ruptured diplomatic relations between the two countries," Mr. Koizumi told the North Korean leader. "I would like your country also to tackle these issues sincerely and seriously."

Mr. Hong, the fourth-ranking official in the communist state's power structure, promised to pass on the message to his supreme leader, Kim Jong-il, Japanese media said.

In Sunday's talks, Japanese negotiators urged the North to let them know whereabouts of the 11 Japanese citizens long thought to have been kidnapped by Pyeongyang. The North Koreans responded curtly that issues about missing persons should be addressed at Red Cross talks.

North Korea reportedly urged that Japan compensate it for aggression in Korea before and during World War II.

Tokyo also showed concern over the North's missile development programs. The North Korean negotiators rejected discussion of missile issues, adding that the matter should be dealt with by Washington.

by Nahm Yoon-ho

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