DATE=8/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=JAPAN NORTH KOREA / SCENE SETTER (L-O)
NUMBER=2-265617
BYLINE=ALISHA RYU
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Tokyo government and Japanese media are
giving conflicting reports of what concessions, if
any, Japan will make to North Korea when the two sides
meet next week for the second round of talks to
normalize diplomatic relations. VOA's Alisha Ryu
reports from our Asia News Center.
TEXT: Several Japanese media, citing sources at the
foreign ministry, say that the Tokyo will inform North
Korea of its decision to form two working panels to
investigate North Korean claims that Japan seized or
destroyed numerous Korean cultural assets during its
colonial occupation of the Korean peninsula. The
Japan Times English-language newspaper reports that as
part of the agreement, the panels will investigate how
Japanese museums across the country obtained Korean
art works.
North Korea has demanded that Japan resolve issues
stemming from Japan's colonial rule of the Korean
peninsula from 1910 to 1945. Pyongyang has repeatedly
called for a package of concessions from Japan,
including a written apology, monetary compensation,
and an assurance of permanent residence status for
North Koreans.
Japanese media say Tokyo will most likely concede on
the residency issue and will agree to grant North
Koreans permanent residency.
But a spokesman for Japan's foreign ministry told VOA
that the government has not made any decisions ahead
of the talks. He says what the Japanese media are
reporting is pure speculation and not fact.
Japan and North Korea's first attempt to establish
diplomatic ties collapsed in 1992. Talks resumed
again in April of this year but a second round of
negotiations, set for late May, was postponed at the
request of North Korea. (Signed)
NEB/HK/AR/JO/KL
18-Aug-2000 08:21 AM EDT (18-Aug-2000 1221 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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