N. Korea Threatens to Refuse Talks with Japan

Seoul, April 2 (Jiji Press)--North Korea threatened Thursday to refuse intergovernmental talks with Japan, citing a raid by Japanese police last week on the home of Ho Jong Man, chairman of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), North Korea's state-run news agency reported. In a letter of protest to the Japanese government, Pyongyang stressed that the two countries cannot hold a dialogue in the circumstances, according to the Korean Central News Agency. On March 26, the police searched the home of the Chongryon chairman and other related places over alleged illegal imports of matsutake mushrooms from North Korea. North Korea urged Japan to fully explain the raid and apologize for it. It also claimed that it has implemented an agreement with Japan, made in Stockholm last May, on its investigation of all Japanese nationals in the reclusive country, including abductees. But Pyongyang has yet to report on the investigation. In Tokyo the same day, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that North Korea's stance of refusing talks is totally unacceptable. Then he demanded an early report. END