Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have started their second working group meeting on Wednesday, or Sept. 5 in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator under the framework of the six-party talks on denuclearizing the Korea Peninsula. Any possible change in bilateral ties or any progress for the Japan-DPRK working group during the meeting is expected to draw the attention of people worldwide.
Shinzo Abe became the prime minister of Japan in September last year, and the greatest expectation of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) then was to facilitate him winning the election, whereas the Japanese people's expectations were chiefly to improve Japan's relations with the neighboring countries and resolve the issue of Japan abductees. Abe, who once accompanied former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on a visit to DPRK, posted an active profile for the settlement of the kidnapping issue.
Over the past one year or so after Abe came to power, however, no progress has been made on the issue of Japan abductees, and Japan-DPRK ties deteriorated. Nevertheless, there is no hurry for Japan to improve its relations with DPRK as the "Korea Threat" theory could be invoked to adjust its security and defense policy, critics here noted. With regard to the "issue of abductees," the Abe Cabinet has appealed for international opinions to impose pressures on DPRK.
With respect to the United States' repeated talks with DPRK in the wake of in-depth progress of the six-party talks, Japan first complained the U.S. for not having adequate co-ordinations with allies, then "drifted with the tide" and, afterward, could hardly remain passive with its talks with DPRK. At a Tokyo forum in late August, an American scholar well versed at Japan-DPRK relations said South Korea also had an issue of abductees but did not have it "politicalized" as Japan did. Personalities from Japanese diplomatic circle began to worry that the issue of Japanese abductees could be shelved if their government does not resume dialogue with DPRK.
Song Il-ho, the ambassador in charge of DPRK-Japan talks of the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters at Shenyang airport on August 28 that he personally affirmed Abe's stance of relaxation toward his country. This comment of Song's was relevant to the Japanese prime minister's address on August 28. While striving to resolve the issue of abductees, Abe said in his address that it is essential to settle the past unfortunate history and push forward the process of normalizing Japan-DPRK diplomatic ties. This is the first time Abe mentioned to "settle the past," Ambassador Song said.
In fact, there is the wording of "settling the past" in the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration reached between the two countries in September 2002, but such an expression has so far not been quoted by Japanese prime ministers in public occasions. Instead, their common-use wording is only that "the diplomatic ties will not resume without the settlement of the issue of Japan abductees."
In the ongoing two-day talks, the theme of "settling the past" can be discussed first to indicate the positive response of the Japanese side. Media reports in Japan hold that Japan's stance toward DPRK has been eased or relaxed as Prime Minister Abe mentions to "settle the past" again. "The DPRK side will work hard so as not to let talks break down at the ongoing DPRK-Japan working group meeting in Ulan Bator," said Ambassador Song Il-ho prior to the meeting.
In another development, Yoshiki Mine, Japanese Ambassador in charge of Japan-DPRK talks, met the press in Tokyo on September 3. As for the issue of "settling the past", in which the DPRK side urged the Japanese side to address its colonial past, he stressed that concrete consultations will be held in accordance with the Pyongyang Declaration. Moreover, he will strive to hold substantial discussions with the DPRK side on the issue of abductees and, if the Japanese side deems concrete progress has been made in the talks, it would possibly mull over its energy aid to DPRK.
Furthermore, Ambassador Mine deems that positive outcome had been scored in the US-DPRK normalization talks held earlier in Geneva, Switzerland, and he expected the outcome of the Geneva talks would have a positive impact on the current Japan-DPRK meeting.
"Rome is not built in a day," as a popular saying goes. If Japan-DPRK ties are to attain any major changes and progress, it is essential for both countries to exert their utmost to conduct dialogues on an equal footing with their utmost sincerity, good intentions and patience.
By People's Daily Online
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