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Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Thursday welcomed the announcement that North Korea has agreed to suspend uranium enrichment and nuclear and long-range missile tests in a breakthrough in negotiations with the United States, which is set to provide food aid in return.
The rare simultaneous announcements in Pyongyang and Washington pointed toward an easing of nuclear tensions under new leader Kim Jong-Un and could clear the way for resumption of multi-nation disarmament-for-aid talks that the North withdrew from in 2009.
Speaking in the Diet, Noda said that he hoped the agreement would lead to a breakthrough in the abduction issue which has been at an impasse for several years.
Noda also said that Japan still has concerns regarding the denuclearization of North Korea and its missile launches.
The Japanese government has been hoping that the change of regime in Pyongyang after the death of Kim Jong-Il in December would lead to new talks on the abductions.
Noda has already asked Chinese and South Korean leaders to tell North Korea’s new leadership that it “must make progress” in addressing the aduction issue if bilateral ties are to be improved.
Earlier this week, Glyn Davies, the U.S. special representative on North Korea, visited Tokyo to brief Japanese leaders on his talks with North Korean officials in Beijing.
Davies said he had asked the North Korean side to reexamine the abduction question, but said he had nothing more tangible to report to Tokyo.
© Japan Today/AP
12 Comments
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soldave
Thank god the abduction case has been mentioned. We went through a whole story on JT yesterday without it being brought up. Was beginning to think maybe the focus was shifting to things nuclear but am glad my faith in the J-gov has not been in vain.
/sarcasm
Kapuna
North Korea has agreed to suspend uranium enrichment and nuclear and long-range missile tests in a breakthrough in negotiations with the United States, which is set to provide food aid in return. Once the food aid has been delivered the uranium enrichment and missle tests will resume.
smithinjapan
"Speaking in the Diet, Noda said that he hoped the agreement would lead to a breakthrough in the abduction issue which has been at an impasse for several years."
NO, NODA! Bringing in a separate, bilateral issue into the fray would ruin BOTH talks -- especially with Japan simultaneously denying its role in sexual slavery and the Rape of Nanjing (ie. angering their neighbours). I know you are desperate to score some political points but keep the mention COMPLETELY separate from the six-nation talks or they will be derailed yet again.
And anyway, I don't think the hope that has been brought about by the agreement means anything at all towards the abduction issue, so I'm not sure why Noda thinks it provides hope for that, too.
nath
Did they ever think that the new leader may not even know about the abduction?
Serrano
If I paid taxes in the U.S. I'd be pissed off about having my tax money going to the North Korean government for food or anything else.
Fadamor
More of the same. N.K. rattling their sword (singular), making some noise in their Easy-Bake® Nuclear Oven, then expecting a handout to quiet them down. They do this every five years or so.
LoveNot
Do not worry. they will send to north korea something nobody in the USa would dare to use, I remember when the USA sent medicines to my country as an aid, all the medicines were beyond their expiration dates.
peanut666
Sanctions to N.Korea means that the people will starve. This will cause N.Korea to become desperate, blame the world for the problems and start a war. America is doing the right thing. Japan is doing the right thing. Slowly build relationships built on trust.
CrazyJoe
There's nothing wrong with the USA sending food aid to ordinary citizens who are starving
bello420
Seeks resolution of abduction issue....hahaha!! No seriously......hahahhaha
smithinjapan
CrazyJoe: "There's nothing wrong with the USA sending food aid to ordinary citizens who are starving"
Agreed. The question is WHO actually gets it? I have no doubt SOME trickles through to citizens, but I suspect most is saved for the military machine, which in turn prompts more starving people to join its 'cause'. The food needs to be given, but under the conditions not only that NK suspends its nuclear weapons program, but that the food distribution is monitored.
SuperLib
Who knows what will happen next. I remember learning about negotiations in school and the guy made a point to say, "You have to get people in the habit of saying YES. In the beginning it might not amount to much, but over time it will pay off." That's what this agreement is to me....both parties showing the ability to say YES. It's not the end of the road yet.