Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited North Korea, the first such visit by a Japanese Prime Minister, and held a summit meeting with Chairman of the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) National Defense Commission Kim Jong-Il.
Arriving at Pyongyang's Sunan Airport in a government plane, Prime Minister Koizumi was greeted by Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and others. Prime Minister Koizumi then proceeded to the Paekhwawon state guest house, where the summit meeting was held with Chairman Kim Jong-Il.
In the summit meeting, with regard to the outstanding issue of the alleged abduction of Japanese nationals, the North Korean side provided information on the fate of 11 people alleged to have been abducted to North Korea, four of whom were confirmed alive. Chairman Kim Jong-Il acknowledged that the incidents were the work of individuals affiliated with North Korea and offered an apology. He stated that those involved were already punished and pledged that such incidents would never be repeated.
With respect to security issues, the two sides confirmed that they would cooperate with each other in order to maintain and strengthen the peace and stability of Northeast Asia, and Chairman Kim Jong-Il expressed his intention to extend a moratorium on missile testing beyond the already-pledged 2003. In addition, the leaders exchanged views on Japan's past colonial rule. Thereby an agreement was reached to resume normalization talks, and after the summit talks, the two leaders signed a joint declaration named Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration.
At a press conference afterward, Prime Minister Koizumi stated, "In the aim of improving Japan-North Korean relations in the future and resolving past issues as well as the current outstanding issues, I have judged it appropriate to resume negotiations."
Prime Minister Koizumi departed for Japan the same evening.
|
