- Title: CHINA: Japan and North Korea meet in Beijing.
- Date: 30th August 2012
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (AUGUST 30, 2012) (REUTERS) ROAD OUTSIDE NORTH KOREAN EMBASSY SECURITY STANDING OUTSIDE GATE NORTH KOREAN NATIONAL FLAG FLYING SIGN OUTSIDE EMBASSY NORTH KOREAN EMBASSY CAR PLATE NO. 133 DRIVING OUT POLICE CAR JAPANESE EMBASSY CAR PLATE NO. 235 IN FRONT OF NORTH KOREAN EMBASSY GATE SOLDIERS AT GATE GUARDS OPENING GATE, CAR DRIVING IN, CLOSING GATE
- Embargoed: 14th September 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Reuters ID: LVA41FZYR5TGNHG540QX9UMD8MI3
- Story Text: A car believed to be carrying a Japanese delegation drives into the North Korean embassy in Beijing, where the two countries are meeting for the first time in four years.
A car believed to be carrying a Japanese delegation drove into the North Korean embassy in Beijing on Thursday (August 30) morning, the second day of meetings Japan said the two nations were holding for the first time in four years.
Earlier this month, Tokyo said the talks would touch on the contentious issue of the North's abduction of Japanese citizens decades ago.
The talks would also be the first since Kim Jong-un took control of North Korea after his father, Kim Jong-il died in December, a further signal he may be breaking free of decades of dour and reclusive management of the impoverished country.
North Korea abducted Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies in the Japanese language and culture.
Japan has repeatedly asked for more information about what happened to those who were kidnapped, but North Korea has insisted that the case is closed.
The abductions have long been a source of diplomatic friction, so any sign of progress on the issue could herald a thaw in relations between the Asian neighbours.
The retrieval of the remains of Japanese who died on the Korean peninsula during World War II would also be on the agenda, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary said.
The Beijing talks were expected to end on Thursday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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