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Report on Meeting and Talks between Kim Jong Il and Koizumi

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

    Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, Saturday met and had talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on a visit to the DPRK to implement the "DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration" and restore the relations of confidence between the two countries. Present there were Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, from the DPRK side and Masaaki Yamazaki, deputy chief Cabinet secretary, Koro Bessho, chief secretary to the prime minister, Hitoshi Tanaka, deputy minister for Foreign Affairs, Mitoji Yabunaka, chief of the Asia and Oceania Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other suite members from the�@Japanese side.
    At the meeting and talks the two sides reaffirmed the "DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration" adopted in September 2002, discussed issues related to its implementation and exchanged views on the overall international issues and on a series of matters arising in improving the bilateral relations.
    Kim Jong Il clarified the principled issues arising in improving the DPRK-Japan ties.
    It is not beneficial in every respect that the two countries have been in the abnormal relationship for over half a century since the end of the war, though they were close to each other and had deep relations historically, he said, stressing that for the two countries to be on good terms, coexist and seek common prosperity is in line with their interests and in favor of peace and stability in Asia and the rest of the world.
    There would be no problems insoluble if the two countries determine and buckle down to settling them from a broad perspective to meet the desire and interests of the two peoples as it is the historic mission facing us, politicians, to improve the abnormal DPRK-Japan relations, he noted.
    Saying that the DPRK government would as ever make positive efforts to implement the declaration, Kim Jong Il stressed that progress in improving the bilateral relations would largely depend on what an attitude and stand the ally of Japan will take.
    Expressing regret at the undesirable things that have so far taken place in the relations with the DPRK, Koizumi manifested the will to set store by the "Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration," convert the hostile relations into those of cooperation and normalize the bilateral relations in the course of honestly implementing it.
    He assured the DPRK side that Japan would halt the invocation of the "law on sanctions" against the DPRK, not discriminate against the Koreans in Japan but treat them in a friendly manner and immediately resume the humanitarian aid to the DPRK and supply 250,000 tons of rice and medicament worth ten million U.S. dollars to the DPRK with a view to restoring the ties of confidence between the two countries.
    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 restoring the confidence, improving the relations between the two countries and promoting peace and stability in Asia and the rest of the world.