Japan to partially lift sanctions on N Korea: Minister
Japan on Friday said it would lift part of its sanctions on arch-enemy North Korea after Pyongyang agreed to start a new probe in a long-running row over its past abductions of Japanese.
By Agencies |
TOKYO: Japan on Friday said it would lift part of its sanctions on arch-enemy North Korea after Pyongyang agreed to start a new probe in a long-running row over its past abductions of Japanese.
The surprise progress came after the two nations reopened talks following a gap of nine months under the aegis of a six-nation, US-backed deal on ending North Korea's nuclear drive.
Japan said that it had agreed to lift restrictions on the movement of people between the two countries and to end a ban on chartered flights from the impoverished communist state.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura announced the measures after two days of talks between North Korea and Japan in Beijing ended yesterday.
"North Korea said they would make an investigation in an effort to settle the abduction issue," Komura told reporters after briefing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
North Korea admitted in 2002 to kidnapping 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies in Japanese language and culture.
It returned five victims and their families and had previously said that the case was closed.
But Komura said the North Koreans appeared to soften their stance in the latest talks. "They did not say that the case was closed," Komura said.
Japan insists that North Korea is hiding survivors and abducted more people it does not acknowledge.
The plight of the abductees has raised deep emotion in Japan, with their families holding rallies across the country.
The surprise progress came after the two nations reopened talks following a gap of nine months under the aegis of a six-nation, US-backed deal on ending North Korea's nuclear drive.
Japan said that it had agreed to lift restrictions on the movement of people between the two countries and to end a ban on chartered flights from the impoverished communist state.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura announced the measures after two days of talks between North Korea and Japan in Beijing ended yesterday.
"North Korea said they would make an investigation in an effort to settle the abduction issue," Komura told reporters after briefing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
North Korea admitted in 2002 to kidnapping 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies in Japanese language and culture.
ADVERTISEMENT
It returned five victims and their families and had previously said that the case was closed.
But Komura said the North Koreans appeared to soften their stance in the latest talks. "They did not say that the case was closed," Komura said.
Japan insists that North Korea is hiding survivors and abducted more people it does not acknowledge.
The plight of the abductees has raised deep emotion in Japan, with their families holding rallies across the country.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
