FOCUS: N. Korea seeks flexible approach from Japan for better ties+

PYONGYANG, Oct. 12 Kyodo -
A call by a senior North Korean official for Japan to take a flexible approach
on bilateral ties appears to reflect Pyongyang's hope for a shift in Tokyo's
diplomacy as North Korea celebrates the official debut of Kim Jong Il's
youngest son as future leader.
The two governments, which have not talked to each other on bilateral issues in
more than two years, have been deadlocked over ways to improve relations,
especially how to handle issues regarding Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese
nationals in the 1970s and 1980s.
''The current situation, I would say, is that Japan is abducted by the
abduction issue,'' Song Il Ho, North Korea's ambassador for normalization talks
with Japan, said Tuesday in an interview with Kyodo News.
Still, some North Korea watchers sense the timing seems good for the two sides
to resume dialogue as North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has just anointed
27-year-old Kim Jong Un as successor in a move that could lead to an eventual
fresh start in North Korean diplomacy.
Song said Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan should shift Tokyo's stance and
work toward improving overall ties with Pyongyang rather than focusing almost
exclusively on the abduction issue, which, he said, would only make things
worse.
While the two sides have the same goal at the ''exit'' level -- normalization
of diplomatic relations -- they differ sharply at the ''entrance'' level.
Japan argues the abduction issue must be addressed before normalizing relations.
North Korea calls for improving overall ties and building confidence, which it
says will lead to ''naturally settling the abduction issue.''
And both sides say the ball is in the other's court.
While Song said Japan must first remove sanctions and other political obstacles
to create favorable conditions for better relations, he did not elaborate how
the two countries would eventually settle the abduction issue as they improve
ties.
The ambassador criticized Japan for using the abduction issue as an excuse to
evade compensating Korean people for Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the
Korean Peninsula.
''I think relations will get better if Japan shifts even one-tenth of the
attention it pays to the abduction to the settlement of the past,'' he said.
Song added he was disappointed in seeing little difference in Japan's North
Korea policy after the Democratic Party of Japan took over power in September
last year from the Liberal Democratic Party, which he said had been unfriendly
toward Pyongyang.
''Japan should alter an anachronistic and nearsighted policy, and make efforts
for the benefit of the public and Japan's future,'' he said. ''If Japan acts,
we will act accordingly.''
==Kyodo
2010-10-13 00:47:32