(VOVworld) – Pyongyang and Tokyo on Monday began a 3-day talk in Stockholm, Sweden about normalizing diplomatic relations.
Pyongyang and Tokyo on Monday began a 3-day talk in Stockholm, Sweden
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According to the Kyodo news agency, Japan hopes that through this negotiation, North Korea will resolve the long-standing issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents in the late 1970s and early 80s. In return, Japan will consider lifting some economic sanctions imposed on North Korea if Pyongyang makes a sincere effort to reinvestigate the case. Junichi Ihara, director general of the Asia and Oceania Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, said Japan wants to make even a little progress in dealing with matters of mutual concern through serious and frank discussions.
In 2002, North Korea admitted kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens. 8 of them died and 5 were returned to Japan. But Tokyo accused Pyongyang of kidnapping 17 Japanese in total and asked Pyongyang to continue investigating and to send the other 4 hostages back to Japan.