Tokyo, Pyeongyang plan a summit

Home > National > Politics

print dictionary print

Tokyo, Pyeongyang plan a summit

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit North Korea on Sept. 17 for the first summit between leaders of the two countries, both capitals announced Friday.

"We will meet to see the possibility of resuming talks to normalize diplomatic ties," Mr. Koizumi told reporters in Tokyo. "We cannot take a step forward unless the leaders of both states talk by mustering political will." Tokyo and Pyeongyang have held 11 meetings devoted to normalizing diplomatic ties since 1991, but all were fruitless.

North Korea's official Central News Agency also reported the Japanese leader's visit to its capital. "Japanese Primer Junichiro Koizumi will visit North Korea to meet and have talks with North Korean National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il," the state-run agency reported.

The Japanese chief cabinet secretary, Yasuo Fukuda, officially an-nounced the Japanese leader's mission. He said the two countries have discussed ways to normalize their relations for a year through official and unofficial channels. Mr. Fukuda said the leaders of South Korea, the United States, China and Russia have been informed. South Korean President Kim Dae-jung welcomed the decision Friday, talking to Mr. Koizumi by telephone.

After meeting Mr. Kim, Mr. Koizumi will return to Japan the same day. No other Japanese cabinet member will accompany him.

The meeting was reportedly suggested by the North during the talks between the two countries' foreign ministry directors this week. The Japanese delegation delivered the offer to Mr. Koizumi, who accepted. Mr. Fukuda, however, did not confirm in detail how the summit was agreed.

The two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues. North Korea has long demanded that Japan give compensation for its military aggression on the peninsula before the World War II. North Korea experts have estimated that the compensation would be between $5 billion and $10 billion, following the precedent set by Seoul and Tokyo in 1965. Japan has voiced concerns over the North's missile development and the alleged abduction of Japanese citizens.

Mr. Koizumi will meet U.S. President George W. Bush in New York Sept. 12.

by Nahm Yoon-ho

Log in to Twitter or Facebook account to connect
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
help-image Social comment?
s
lock icon

To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.

Standards Board Policy (0/250자)