DPRK to let Japan abductee relatives leave
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-05-22 16:20

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed on Saturday to let five family members of Japan abductees go to Japan, Japanese officials said.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (R) shakes hands with N.Korean leader Kim Jong-il following their talks in Pyongyang May 22, 2004. Kim has agreed that all the relatives of Japanese abducted by Pyongyang's agents decades ago can go to Japan, reports said on Saturday after the leaders' summit. [Reuters]

The agreement came after top leader of the DPRK Kim Jong-il and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held talks on normalizing relations and other bilateral issues.

For its part, Japan agreed to extend 250,000 tons of food aid and 10 million US dollars worth of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the DPRK.

Kim and Koizumi ended their talks at 12:35 local time (0335 GMT) in the Daedonggang Guest House in the suburb of Pyongyang.

It is the second summit between Koizumi and Kim since the two leaders met in Pyongyang in September 2002, when Koizumi launched a historic visit to the DPRK and signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.

Kiozumi, who is here for a one-day visit, will hold a press conference around 4"The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier that Koizumi' meeting with Kim was intended to "restore the relations of confidence between the two countries." Japan and the DPRK has not established diplomatic ties so far.

Korean Peninsula free from nuclear weapons: Japanese PM

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Saturday that it wants a Korean Peninsula  free from nuclear weapons, visiting Japanese Prime Minister  Junichiro Koizumi said.

Koizumi said the statement was made by the top leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong-il, in talks with him.

Kim also said the DPRK is willing to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through six-party talks, according to the  Japanese prime minister.

Earlier Saturday, Kim and Koizumi held an hour and a half talks on normalizing relations and other bilateral issues in the morning.

 In the meeting, the DPRK agreed to let five family members of  Japan abductees go to Japan, a move widely seen as a breakthrough  in relations between the two countries.

For its part, Japan agreed to extend 250,000 tons of food aid  and 10 million US dollars worth of medical supplies and  humanitarian aid to the DPRK.

It is the second summit between Koizumi and Kim since the two  leaders met in Pyongyang in September 2002, when Koizumi launched  a historic visit to the DPRK and  signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang  Declaration.

The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier that Koizumi meeting with Kim was intended to "restore the  relations of confidence between the two countries."  Japan and the DPRK has not established diplomatic ties so far.

DPRK sees meeting "historic event"

The Democratic People's Republic  of Korea (DPRK) said  Saturday the just concluded meeting between  its top leader Kim Jong-il and visiting Japanese Prime Minister  Junichiro Koizumi is a "historic event" in the bilateral relations.

 The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a  commentary, "The meeting and talks proceeded in a sincere and  candid atmosphere."

"The meeting and talks between the top leaders of the DPRK and  Japan mark an important and historic event in improving confidence, improving the relations between the two countries and promoting  peace and stability in Asia and the rest of the world," said the  commentary.

Earlier Saturday, Kim and Koizumi held here an hour and a half  talks on normalizing relations and other bilateral issues.

During the talks, Kim agreed to let five family members of  Japan abductees go to Japan, a move widely seen as a breakthrough  in relations between the two countries.

 Kim also said DPRK wants a Korean Peninsula free from nuclear  weapons, and DPRK is willing to solve the nuclear issue on the  Korean Peninsula through six-party talks, according to the  Japanese prime minister.

For its part, Japan promised to extend 250,000 tons of food aid and 10 million US dollars worth of medical supplies and  humanitarian aid to the DPRK.

Koizumi said that he would bring five of the family members  back with him to Tokyo on Saturday evening.

It is the second summit between Koizumi and Kim since the two  leaders met in Pyongyang in September 2002, when Koizumi launched  a historic visit to the DPRK and  signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang  Declaration.

The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier  that Koizumi' meeting with Kim was intended to "restore the  relations of confidence between the two countries."  Japan and the DPRK has not established diplomatic ties so far.

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