Japanese, DPRK Officials Begin Normalization Talks

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, October 29, 2002

Japanese, DPRK Officials Begin Normalization Talks

Officials from Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) began closed-door talks at 10 a.m. (0200 GMT) Tuesday, aimed at normalizing diplomatic ties.

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Officials from Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) began closed-door talks at 10 a.m. (0200 GMT) here Tuesday, aimed at normalizing diplomatic ties.

The talks, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, came as a result of last month's summit between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and DPRK leader Kim Jong-il.

A Japanese official said issues topping the agenda included theJapanese citizens abducted by the DPRK and the scrapping of the DPRK's nuclear weapons program.

DPRK chief negotiator Jong Thae-hwa, however, was quoted as saying the main topic should be the "settlement of problems" related to the two countries' history.

Previous attempts by the two countries to normalize diplomatic relations broke down two years ago when the DPRK denied its role in the abductions of Japanese citizens decades ago.

It is reported that the DPRK's admission of the abductions lastmonth cleared the way for the resumption of the stalled talks.

Koizumi said in Mexico on Monday that the coming talks would have "a great impact on peace and stability" in the region.

"We intend to make the talks comprehensive," he said, adding that "we will discuss the abduction issue and security, as well asproblems of the past, the present and the future."

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