Abductee's mother wants Japan to take firmer stance against N. Korea
February 5, 2006The mother of a Japanese abductee said Sunday that the Japanese government should take a firmer stance against North Korea on the abduction issue as she is concerned that simply continuing discussions may not be sufficient. ''I am worried that continuing the abduction talks is just like repeating the same things,'' Sakie Yokota, 69, said following Sunday's discussions between Japan and North Korea on the issue of the past abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents.
No major progress in Japan-N. Korea abduction talks in Beijing
February 5, 2006Japan and North Korea failed to make major progress in their talks Sunday on the dispute over the past abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents, with both sides basically presenting their respective standpoints on the issue. Kim Chol Ho, head of the North Korean delegation to the abduction panel, told reporters following about nine hours of bilateral discussions in Beijing that major differences still remain between the two countries.
Japan, N. Korea to continue abduction talks in Beijing: Japan envoy
February 5, 2006Japan and North Korea will continue talks on the issue of the past abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents in Beijing, a Japanese official said Sunday. Kunio Umeda, Japan's chief delegate to the bilateral panel addressing the abduction issue, told reporters that Japan reiterated its position in Sunday's discussion that resolving the abduction issue is essential for normalizing diplomatic ties with North Korea.
Big gaps remain between Japan, N. Korea on abduction issue
February 5, 2006A North Korean official said Sunday that big gaps still remain between Japan and North Korea on the issue of the past abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents. Kim Chol Ho, North Korea's chief delegate to the bilateral panel addressing the abduction issue, also told reporters that North Korea made efforts to resolve the abduction issue during Sunday's discussion and that it will study further steps on the issue. ==Kyodo
Japan, N. Korea discuss abductions on 2nd day of Beijing talks
February 5, 2006Japan and North Korea on Sunday discussed their dispute over the past abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents to try to figure out ways to resolve the matter as bilateral talks continued for the second day in Beijing. The two sides met for a total of about nine hours in two sessions, with Japan expressing its views on the topic in the morning, according to Kim Chol Ho, North Korea's chief delegate to the bilateral panel on the issue, who spoke to reporters without elaborating after their meeting broke for lunch.
Japan, N. Korea discuss abductions on 2nd day of Beijing talks
February 5, 2006Japan and North Korea on Sunday began trying to figure out a way to solve their bitter dispute over the past abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents, as bilateral talks in Beijing entered the second day. Japan expressed its views on the topic in a three-hour morning session of a panel addressing the abduction issue, according to Kim Chol Ho, North Korea's chief delegate to the bilateral panel on the issue, who spoke to reporters without elaborating after the meeting broke for lunch.
Nakagawa hints at on-site inspection as beef import resumption term
February 5, 2006Farm minister Shoichi Nakagawa hinted Sunday that the government may add on-site inspections of U.S. meat processing facilities by Japanese officials to conditions for resuming beef imports from the United States. ''To restore consumer confidence, Japan may need to take its own measures, including inspections of designated facilities, for example,'' Nakagawa said on television programs.