VIETNAM: Japan and North Korean envoys meet in Vietnam to iron out issues ahead of bilateral talks

Record ID: 464320

  • Title: VIETNAM: Japan and North Korean envoys meet in Vietnam to iron out issues ahead of bilateral talks
  • Date: 6th March 2007
  • Summary: (BN04) HANOI, VIETNAM (MARCH 6, 2007)(REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF JAPANESE EMBASSY EMBASSY SIGN
  • Embargoed: 21st March 2007 12:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVAAUVM7UAEHY6M4XJ2RJ5NWYE0J
  • Story Text: Japanese and North Korean envoys are in Vietnam to discuss ways to normalize ties between the two countries through resolving outstanding issues such as the kidnapping of Japanese nationals by Pyongyang decades ago and sanctions against North Korea.
    Japanese and North Korean envoys were in Hanoi on Tuesday (March 6) fine-tuning their demands on each other ahead of bilateral meetings to help establish formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.
    "Rather than formalities, we would like to take time to discuss the abductee issue thoroughly and the North Koreans have expressed great interest in the issue of sanctions so I believe that they will want to spend talking talking about that so I think it is important that we are able to discuss both issues in a balanced manner," said Koichi Haraguchi, Japan's chief negotiator and leader of the delegation.
    Haraguchi, reiterating Japan's stance has said called for the North Koreans to make a "strategic" decision on resolving the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang agents when diplomats from both countries meet on March 7-8.
    The bilateral talks are part of a complex agreement reached by six countries last month under which communist North Korea promised to scrap its nuclear weapons programme in exchange for aid.
    Japan says normalization of ties with North Korea will not be possible unless North Korea gives more information about people abducted in the 1970s and the 1980s, but North Korea says the matter is closed.
    The Hanoi meeting and separate talks in New York on Monday (March 5) between the United States and North Korea are the beginning of the implementation of the February 13 deal reached in Beijing, officials said.
    Communist-run Vietnam, which has opened its economy and fostered international relations in recent years in contrast with its long-time ally North Korea, said it hoped the negotiations would contribute to peace and stability in the region. ENDS
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