Past Unpleasant Events must be Cleared up: DPRK Leader

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, September 15, 2002

Past Unpleasant Events must be Cleared up: DPRK Leader

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Saturday expressed the hope that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's coming visit will promote the normalization of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The DPRK leader made these remarks in his answer to the written questions submitted by the president of the Kyodo News Service on the Japanese PM's visit to the DPRK set for Sept. 17.

Kim described Koizumi's forthcoming visit as a turning point for the normalization of DPRK-Japan relations, and expressed his confidence that the meeting and talks with the Japanese prime minister will bear fruit.

It is in keeping with the aspirations and interests of the peoples of the two countries to normalize bilateral relations and develop good-neighborliness, and it is also an urgent demand of the times, he pointed out.

The precondition for the normalization of bilateral relations and the development of good-neighbourly relations is that the past unpleasant events involving the two countries must be cleared up, Kim stressed.

Japan must take into full consideration all the damages and sufferings it had inflicted upon the Korean people, sincerely apologize for its wrong doings and properly resolve the issue of compensation, he added

He also noted that the statesmen of the two countries are now entrusted with a historic mission to normalize the abnormal bilateral relations. If they can proceed in all cases from the people's aspirations and interests, they will solve any problems existing between the two countries.

When asked whether he will visit Japan in the future, Kim said he will do so as long as the bilateral relations between the two countries develop favorably on a normal track.

Questions?Comments? Click here

DPRK Leader Wants to Normalize Ties with Japan: Report

Japan Announces Time Schedule for PM's DPRK Visit

Japanese Court Dismisses Germ Warfare Victims' Damages Claim ( 94 Messages)

China Plans to Stop the Overeas Flight of Corrupt Officials ( 69 Messages)

China Blocks the Way of Corrupt Officials Fleeing Overseas ( 5 Messages)

Survey Discloses Bad Service of Domestic Banks ( 4 Messages)

Quantitative Study Uncovers US Media Blackout: China Youth Daily ( 25 Messages)