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Japan objects to US N Korea move | Japan objects to US N Korea move |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Japan has criticised as "extremely regrettable" Washington's decision to remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. | Japan has criticised as "extremely regrettable" Washington's decision to remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. |
Japan opposed the move because it first wanted North Korea to provide more information about Japanese citizens it abducted in the 1970s and 1980s. | |
Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said "abductions amount to terrorist acts". | |
The US removed the North after saying it had agreed to provide full access to its controversial nuclear programme. | |
Mr Nakagawa objected to the move during a visit to Washington, where he was attending G7 talks. | |
JAPAN'S MISSING Snatched in the '70s and '80sUsed as cultural trainers for N Korean spiesFive allowed home in 2002Five children now freed from N KoreaEight said to be dead, others missing class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2263822.stm">Heartbreak over Japan's missing | |
A BBC correspondent in Tokyo says many in Japan will feel North Korea has been rewarded too soon. | |
There has not yet been any official North Korean response to the US move. | |
'Normalisation' | 'Normalisation' |
Tokyo argues North Korea should remain on the list because issues related to the abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s have not been resolved. | |
South Korea, however, welcomed the US decision. | South Korea, however, welcomed the US decision. |
"This government welcomes these moves as an opportunity that would lead to normalisation of the six-party talks and North Korea's eventual abandonment of its nuclear programmes," said Kim Sook, Seoul's nuclear envoy. | "This government welcomes these moves as an opportunity that would lead to normalisation of the six-party talks and North Korea's eventual abandonment of its nuclear programmes," said Kim Sook, Seoul's nuclear envoy. |
On Saturday State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said North Korea would resume its disabling of nuclear facilities. | On Saturday State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said North Korea would resume its disabling of nuclear facilities. |
This disablement was agreed in 2007, but the process has recently reversed with North Korea threatening to restart its Yongbyon reactor. | This disablement was agreed in 2007, but the process has recently reversed with North Korea threatening to restart its Yongbyon reactor. |
Under the latest accord, North Korea will allow nuclear experts to take samples and conduct forensic tests at all its declared nuclear facilities and undeclared sites, the State Department said. | Under the latest accord, North Korea will allow nuclear experts to take samples and conduct forensic tests at all its declared nuclear facilities and undeclared sites, the State Department said. |
The North will also allow inspectors to verify its denials about transfers of nuclear technology and an alleged uranium programme. | The North will also allow inspectors to verify its denials about transfers of nuclear technology and an alleged uranium programme. |
Analysts say it is not clear the latest agreement will succeed: Several previous deals have broken down due to different interpretations of what was required. | Analysts say it is not clear the latest agreement will succeed: Several previous deals have broken down due to different interpretations of what was required. |
Expulsions | Expulsions |
Washington's announcement came after a visit to Pyongyang last week by US envoy Christopher Hill, and days of talks between the US and its negotiating partners China, South Korea, Russia and Japan. | Washington's announcement came after a visit to Pyongyang last week by US envoy Christopher Hill, and days of talks between the US and its negotiating partners China, South Korea, Russia and Japan. |
Together with North Korea, they have been involved in long-running six-party talks over the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. | Together with North Korea, they have been involved in long-running six-party talks over the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. |
Pyongyang began disabling its Yongbyon nuclear reactor in August, but recently it has made moves to reassemble the plant after Washington refused to remove North Korea from the terror blacklist. | Pyongyang began disabling its Yongbyon nuclear reactor in August, but recently it has made moves to reassemble the plant after Washington refused to remove North Korea from the terror blacklist. |
It also expelled UN inspectors and test-fired short-range missiles, increasing tensions with the US. | It also expelled UN inspectors and test-fired short-range missiles, increasing tensions with the US. |
Correspondents say Pyongyang wanted to be removed from the US list in order to receive international aid and loans, and to facilitate its diplomatic rehabilitation. | Correspondents say Pyongyang wanted to be removed from the US list in order to receive international aid and loans, and to facilitate its diplomatic rehabilitation. |
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