DATE=12/14/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=JAPAN / NORTH KOREA (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-257126 BYLINE=KARRIN AMODEO DATELINE=TOKYO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Japan said Tuesday it will lift the remaining sanctions against North Korea, imposed a year ago after Pyongyang test fired a ballistic missile over Japanese territory. Karrin Amodeo reports from Tokyo. TEXT: A top government spokesman, Mikio Aoki, told a news conference that Japan will begin talks aimed at normalizing relations with North Korea this month and lift a ban on food aid. But the freeze on food aid will not be ended immediately. Mr. Aoki said Japan would make a decision on the resumption food shipments to the famine stricken North, after holding preliminary talks. The decision comes shortly after the return from North Korea of former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, who led a team of lawmakers from several Japanese political parties. The delegation held successful talks aimed at improving ties between the two countries. Relations soured in August 1998, after North Korea test fired a missile over Japanese territory. Japan halted food shipments, suspended charter flights and broke off talks on establishing diplomatic relations. Japan partially lifted sanctions - including the suspension of charter flights - after North Korea's pledge to the United States in September that it will freeze development of nuclear weapons. Paul Stares, Director of Studies at the Japan Center for International Exchange, says the new efforts to improve ties will ease tensions in the region //STARES ACT// Hopefully it will bring some stability to Northeast Asia (in as much as) if everybody is talking with everybody else and issues are being resolved peacefully then the likelihood of the situation suddenly unraveling and certainly conflict unraveling on the Korean peninsula is much reduced. And that's what everyone would like to see happen. //END ACT// Engagement also brings other benefits. Most notably, analysts say, Japan's decision could provide the impetus to improve the relationship between North and South Korea. Resumption of Japan's economic and humanitarian aid would also help reduce suffering North Korea and boost Pyongyang's economy. But serious obstacles to forging diplomatic relations remain. In particular, lawmakers here say the issue of the missing Japanese citizens must be resolved before relations can be normalized. Efforts to develop diplomatic ties fell apart in 1992, after Japan alleged that North Korean agents kidnapped Japanese citizens to help train spies. North Korea has denied the allegations. (SIGNED) NEB/KA/GC/FC 14-Dec-1999 06:35 AM EDT (14-Dec-1999 1135 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
