The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed on Saturday to let five family members of Japan abductees go to Japan, Japanese officials said.
The agreement came after top leader of the DPRK Kim Jong-il and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held talks on normalizing relations and other bilateral issues.
For its part, Japan agreed to extend 250,000 tons of food aid and 10 million US dollars worth of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the DPRK.
Kim and Koizumi ended their talks at 12:35 local time (0335 GMT) in the Daedonggang Guest House in the suburb of Pyongyang.
It is the second summit between Koizumi and Kim since the two leaders met in Pyongyang in September 2002, when Koizumi launched a historic visit to the DPRK and signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
Kiozumi, who is in Pyongyang for a one-day visit, will hold a press conference around 4. TThe DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier that Koizumi' meeting with Kim was intended to "restore the relations of confidence between the two countries." Japan and the DPRK has not established diplomatic ties so far.
Korean Peninsula free from nuclear weapons: Japanese PM
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Saturday that it wants a Korean Peninsula free from nuclear weapons, visiting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said.
Koizumi said the statement was made by the top leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong-il, in talks with him.
Kim also said the DPRK is willing to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through six-party talks, according to the Japanese prime minister.
Earlier Saturday, Kim and Koizumi held an hour and a half talks on normalizing relations and other bilateral issues in the morning.
In the meeting, the DPRK agreed to let five family members of Japan abductees go to Japan, a move widely seen as a breakthrough in relations between the two countries.
For its part, Japan agreed to extend 250,000 tons of food aid and 10 million US dollars worth of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the DPRK.
It is the second summit between Koizumi and Kim since the two leaders met in Pyongyang in September 2002, when Koizumi launched a historic visit to the DPRK and signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier that Koizumi meeting with Kim was intended to "restore the relations of confidence between the two countries." Japan and the DPRK has not established diplomatic ties so far.
DPRK sees meeting "historic event"
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Saturday the just concluded meeting between its top leader Kim Jong-il and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is a "historic event" in the bilateral relations.
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a commentary, "The meeting and talks proceeded in a sincere and candid atmosphere."
"The meeting and talks between the top leaders of the DPRK and Japan mark an important and historic event in improving confidence, improving the relations between the two countries and promoting peace and stability in Asia and the rest of the world," said the commentary.
Earlier Saturday, Kim and Koizumi held here an hour and a half talks on normalizing relations and other bilateral issues.
During the talks, Kim agreed to let five family members of Japan abductees go to Japan, a move widely seen as a breakthrough in relations between the two countries.
Kim also said DPRK wants a Korean Peninsula free from nuclear weapons, and DPRK is willing to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through six-party talks, according to the Japanese prime minister.
For its part, Japan promised to extend 250,000 tons of food aid and 10 million US dollars worth of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the DPRK.
Koizumi said that he would bring five of the family members back with him to Tokyo on Saturday evening.
It is the second summit between Koizumi and Kim since the two leaders met in Pyongyang in September 2002, when Koizumi launched a historic visit to the DPRK and signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.
The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier that Koizumi' meeting with Kim was intended to "restore the relations of confidence between the two countries." Japan and the DPRK has not established diplomatic ties so far.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2004)
