DATE=4/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=JAPAN / NORKOR TALKS (L-O)
NUMBER=2-260963
BYLINE=HYUN-SUNG KHANG
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: North Korea and Japan have begun talks aimed
at establishing diplomatic ties. Hyun-Sung Khang
reports from Seoul that North Korea has demanded Japan
pay compensation for its past rule of the Korean
peninsula.
TEXT: Communist North Korea wants an apology and
compensation for Japan's harsh colonial rule between
1910 and 1945. North Korea's chief negotiator to the
talks made the demand while outlining Pyongyang's
position at the beginning of three-days of
discussions.
The North Korean media joined the campaign for
compensation, calling for Tokyo to - liquidate its
past.
The issue is likely to be a major sticking point
between the two sides. Before the talks began, the
Japanese representative signaled that his country is
prepared to state its regret for its colonial record,
but will reject demands for compensation.
One major issue for Japan in this week's talks is
North Korea's missile program. Japan is looking for
an assurance that the reclusive North will bring the
program to a halt. Tokyo angrily broke off contacts
with Pyongyang for more than a year after the North
fired a medium-range ballistic missile over Japanese
territory in 1998.
Japan is also likely to press the case of 10 of its
citizens who were allegedly kidnapped in the 1970's
and 1980's by North Korea. It is believed the 10 were
to be used to train spies about everyday life in
Japan.
The last full-scale rapprochement talks between the
two sides collapsed more than seven-years ago, when
Tokyo raised the issue of its missing citizens and
protested against Pyongyang's suspected nuclear arms
program.
As this round of talks began, negotiators acknowledged
there are huge hurdles ahead.
The discussions are going forward despite the change
of leadership in Japan. Former Japanese Prime
Minister, Keizo Obuchi played a significant role in
bringing the two countries to the negotiating table.
According to a Japanese official, the North Korean
representative wished Mr. Obuchi, who is in a coma, a
speedy recovery. He acknowledged that the former
prime minister had worked hard to improve North
Korean-Japanese relations. (SIGNED)
NEB/HSK/FC/RAE
05-Apr-2000 07:42 AM EDT (05-Apr-2000 1142 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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