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
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