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KCNA Blasts Japan's Scheme to Scuttle Six-Party Talks

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

   Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- A working group meeting for the normalization of the DPRK-Japan relations recently took place in Hanoi under a joint agreement reached at the third session of the fifth round of the six-party talks on February 13.
    Many countries hoped measures would be discussed for the normalization of the bilateral relations based on Japan's redemption of its inglorious past and solution of pending issues between the two countries at the meeting.
    Japan, however, insisted on the repatriation of all the abductees it claims still alive, probe into the truth and extradition of criminals, etc. saying that the diplomatic relations can be opened only when the "abduction issue" is settled, to begin with. It even made far-fetched assertions that the issue can not be considered as settled although it was confirmed that some of the victims are no longer alive and all of the abductees should be repatriated to Japan on the premises that all of them are alive.
    The working meeting thus failed to reach any agreement due to Japan's wrong act of seriously violating the spirit of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration and that of the February 13 joint document.
    This is an inevitable product of the deliberate moves of the present ruling quarters and the right-wing forces of Japan who do not want the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the normalization of the bilateral relations.
    Prior to the meeting, Prime Minister Abe blustered that "Japan should approach the meeting, pursuant to the policy which calls on it not to participate in the energy assistance if no progress is made in the settlement of the 'abduction issue.'" Foreign Minister Aso, too, uttered that "Japan cannot provide even a single yen for energy assistance if no progress is made in this respect."
    It is not hard to guess how the delegation to the meeting had behaved to represent the stand of the authorities.
    The DPRK, therefore, is compelled to clarify its stand as regards the "energy assistance" touted by Japan.
    The DPRK has never asked Japan for any assistance and it has no idea of getting any help from it, either.
    It did not build its economy with others' help in the past.
    It is the DPRK's avowed principled stand to consolidate and develop the independent national economy with its technology and resources.
    For Japan to claim that without Japan's energy assistance the DPRK would face great difficulties in its economic development is nothing but a ridiculous calculation of those who know nothing about its economy.
    The energy assistance to the DPRK was what the six parties including Japan agreed upon at the talks.
    The DPRK does not care about whether Japan gives energy assistance to it or not because it would not affect much the DPRK's economic development. This is its message to the Japanese statesmen.
    But what Japan should do unconditionally is to apologize and compensate for the crimes committed by it against the Korean people in the past.
    At the recent meeting Japan sidestepped the issue of settling such hideous crimes committed against humankind as forcible drafting and kidnapping of at least 8.4 million Koreans, killing of more than one million of them and recruitment of 200,000 "comfort women" for the imperial Japanese army, even distorting the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
    The present Japanese chief executive is a grandson of A class war criminal and the foreign minister is a descendant of the Asos who forcibly took Koreans to coal mines, forcing them to do slave labor. Therefore, they are obliged to more honestly and humbly reflect on the crimes committed by Japan than any others and have the crimes committed by their forefathers settled.
    Nevertheless, they instructed their delegates to vociferate at the meeting about the "abduction issue" which had found its settlement thanks to the DPRK's sincere efforts, while turning aside from the issue of redressing Japan's past. How brazen-faced the present Japanese statesmen are.
    Explicitly speaking, Japan should settle its past in such a manner as to convince the Korean people by way of compensating for the damage done to them and the crimes perpetrated against them. The hideous crimes committed by Japan against humanity should be settled as a separate issue.
    The DPRK strongly demands Japan stop talking about the "abduction issue" but redeem the crimes committed by it in the past which are more horrendous than the issue and sincerely implement the agreement reached at the six-party talks.
    Japan's failure to do so would only betray its true colors as a mean country behaving quite contrary to the promise and good faith it had said honor before the international community. Then it will stand further ostracized and isolated worldwide.