Japan, S. Korea cautious about early resumption of nuclear talks+

HANOI, July 22 Kyodo -
Japan and South Korea reaffirmed Thursday trilateral tie-ups with the United
States in dealing with North Korea following the fatal sinking of a South
Korean warship in March and shared a cautious stance on early resumption of the
six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programs.
Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told reporters after meeting his South
Korean counterpart Yu Myung Hwan that he has no intention of holding talks with
North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun on the sidelines of the 27-member
ASEAN Regional Forum, a regional security meeting including the North, in Hanoi
on Friday.
Citing the loss of 46 lives in the sinking of a South Korean warship in March,
Okada said, ''This is a serious situation. The six-party talks will not resume
as if nothing has happened.''
Yu has accused the North of taking advantage of the denuclearization talks to
avoid responsibility for the March 26 sinking of the Cheonan in the Yellow Sea.
Asked whether he plans to meet bilaterally with Pak, Okada said he ''must pay
close attention to the feelings of South Korea,'' especially after the deadly
incident, and that meeting him could give other countries the impression that
Japan has shifted to an ''appeasement stance'' toward North Korea.
''I think I have no option to contact him'' while they are in the Vietnamese
capital, Okada said.
South Korea, Japan and the United States say a North Korean torpedo attack sunk
the Cheonan. But North Korea has denied any involvement.
The three countries are all opposed to the early restart of six-party talks on
North Korea's nuclear program, unless Pyongyang takes action in response to
international condemnation over the sinking of the vessel.
Okada and Yu agreed that it will be important to find out what kind of steps
the North will take in considering whether to reopen the denuclearization
talks, a Japanese official said.
With regard to Washington's announcement of new sanctions targeted at North
Korea, the two reaffirmed that South Korea and Japan have implemented their own
sanctions against Pyongyang.
The fresh U.S. sanctions will be targeted at the North's sale and procurement
of arms and related material as well as the procurement of luxury goods, U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday in Seoul.
The punitive measures will be aimed at stopping North Korea's nuclear
proliferation and halting illicit activities that help fund the North's nuclear
weapons program.
Yu also said the North's past abduction of Japanese nationals constitutes ''a
grave human rights violation'' and that the international community should put
pressure on the North, according to the official.
Okada said the current visit to Japan by former North Korean agent Kim Hyon Hui
reminded Japanese people of the importance of the abduction issue and sought
Seoul's cooperation over the matter.
The ex-spy met with families of the abductees to tell them what she knows about
the abduction victims.
Turning to bilateral relations, Okada and Yu agreed that this year will be
''sensitive'' for the two countries, as Aug. 29 will mark the centennial of
Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula.
Okada told reporters he talked with Yu ''not only about the past but also
future bilateral relations in the next 100 years.''
Okada did not elaborate on the Japanese government's plans on the centenary,
the day the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty was proclaimed 100 years ago, telling
reporters the government is still examining what to do.
In South Korea, expectations are growing that Japan may issue a statement
offering an apology for the country's colonial rule.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II on Aug. 15,
1995, then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama released a statement expressing
remorse and an apology for Japan's colonial rule and wartime aggression,
particularly in Asia.
Since then, successive Japanese governments have stood by the Murayama statement.
As for economic issues, Okada expected that Japan and South Korea will soon
resume negotiations aimed at sealing a bilateral free trade agreement. Yu said
he has a ''strong interest'' in the FTA between Japan and South Korea and that
South Korea will offer continued cooperation over the matter.
The bilateral FTA talks, which were launched in December 2003, have been
suspended since November 2004 with gaps having emerged over potential tariff
cuts in farm and industrial products.
==Kyodo
2010-07-23 00:19:24


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