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DPRK eyes fruitful ties with Japan

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-11 08:08

TOKYO: The nominal No. 2 leader of Democractic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has called for "fruitful relations" with Japan's next prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, but ties will depend on how Tokyo tackles issues such as compensation for Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule, Kyodo news agency reported Thursday.

Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, also suggested in an interview that leader Kim Jong-il had no health problems, adding that there had been no discussions on who would succeed him, Kyodo reported from Pyongyang.

Dancers celebrate the 61st anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea this week in front of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang. Reuters

"The prospect of (DPRK)-Japan relations will solely depend on the attitude of the Japanese government," Kim Yong-nam was quoted by Kyodo as saying.

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Ties between Japan and the DPRK have been rocky because of issues ranging from Japan's past colonization to alleged DPRK abductions of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as concerns about Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.

Tokyo imposed an array of sanctions on the DPRK after a series of missile and nuclear tests, while Pyongyang's official media are routinely scathing in their criticism of Japan.

Hatoyama, who is expected to take office on September 16, advocates closer ties with Asian neighbors but his party has promised to take firm measures to urge the DPRK to abandon its nuclear program with help from the international community.

Kim Yong-nam criticized the "hostile" stance of the outgoing conservative Liberal Democratic Party government of Prime Minister Taro Aso, a relatively hawkish leader who pushed a tough line on the DPRK.

On media reports on a potential successor to leader Kim Jong-il, Kim Yong-nam said they were "groundless", Kyodo said.

Kim Yong-nam said foreign media ran such reports "in an attempt to stifle our rise and prosperity."

Reuters-AFP