Sunday, May 23, 2004
Japan's food aid to North Korea
By P. S. Suryanarayana
SINGAPORE, MAY 22. The Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, said today that the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, told him that Pyongyang would seek to resolve the issues arising out of its nuclear-weapons programme through the ongoing process of six-party talks. Mr. Koizumi was addressing the Japanese media at the conclusion of his summit with Mr. Kim in Pyongyang today.
On the bilateral front, which has considerable significance for Tokyo's proactive participation in the six-party talks, N. Korea agreed to send the five Japanese, 'abducted' by Pyongyang during the Cold War period, for a reunion with their relatives. While the five had gone back to Japan, under a formula that was evolved in the context of Mr. Koizumi's first-ever summit with Mr. Kim in Pyongyang in September 2002, the relatives had not been allowed to accompany them. The two sides interpreted the formula differently, especially in regard to how long the five could stay in Japan, but the latest accord would appear to have eased that issue to an extent.
Mr. Koizumi said at a press conference in Pyongyang that Japan had promised food and medical aid to North Korea in the context of the reunion.
He said 250,000 tons of food aid, through international agencies, and medical supplies worth $10 millions would be sent in within the next couple of months.
The DPRK has consistently opposed any direct linkage between the nuclear question and the kidnap issue.
However, the latest accord might enable Japan to play an "economic card'' at these multilateral parleys to quicken the pace of negotiations.
Copyright © 2004, The Hindu.