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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Doubts over Japan-N Korea talks | Doubts over Japan-N Korea talks |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| North Korea has delayed the afternoon session of talks with Japan on normalising strained relations, raising doubts about their chances. | North Korea has delayed the afternoon session of talks with Japan on normalising strained relations, raising doubts about their chances. |
| The North gave no reason for pulling out, and it was not clear if talks scheduled for Thursday were affected. | The North gave no reason for pulling out, and it was not clear if talks scheduled for Thursday were affected. |
| The two sides are split by Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 80s to help train its spies. | The two sides are split by Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 80s to help train its spies. |
| Japan's chief envoy Koichi Haraguchi has said normalising ties would not be possible until the issue is resolved. | Japan's chief envoy Koichi Haraguchi has said normalising ties would not be possible until the issue is resolved. |
| The two sides held talks in the morning, but the North Koreans then gave notice that the talks due to start at 1500 local time (0800GMT) would not take place on time. | The two sides held talks in the morning, but the North Koreans then gave notice that the talks due to start at 1500 local time (0800GMT) would not take place on time. |
| 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 Heartbreak over missing | |
| A spokesman at the Japanese Embassy in Hanoi told the BBC that it was not clear whether the talks had been postponed or cancelled. | A spokesman at the Japanese Embassy in Hanoi told the BBC that it was not clear whether the talks had been postponed or cancelled. |
| Nuclear deal | Nuclear deal |
| Wednesday's bilateral meetings, taking place in Hanoi, were part of a deal agreed during six-party talks in Beijing last month. | Wednesday's bilateral meetings, taking place in Hanoi, were part of a deal agreed during six-party talks in Beijing last month. |
| Under the deal, Pyongyang agreed to "shut down and seal" a key nuclear facility and admit UN nuclear inspectors in return for 50,000 tonnes of fuel oil. | Under the deal, Pyongyang agreed to "shut down and seal" a key nuclear facility and admit UN nuclear inspectors in return for 50,000 tonnes of fuel oil. |
| Another bilateral meeting - between the US and North Korea - ended on Tuesday in New York, with US chief negotiator Christopher Hill voicing a "sense of optimism" that Pyongyang would stick to its commitments under the six-party deal. | Another bilateral meeting - between the US and North Korea - ended on Tuesday in New York, with US chief negotiator Christopher Hill voicing a "sense of optimism" that Pyongyang would stick to its commitments under the six-party deal. |
| "They were good, businesslike and very comprehensive discussions," Mr Hill told reporters. | "They were good, businesslike and very comprehensive discussions," Mr Hill told reporters. |
| Despite Japan's reservations about the six-nation deal, Japanese government spokesman Yasuhisa Shiozaki said he welcomed the progress of the US-North Korea talks. | Despite Japan's reservations about the six-nation deal, Japanese government spokesman Yasuhisa Shiozaki said he welcomed the progress of the US-North Korea talks. |
| "It is a good thing that the United States and North Korea are talking," he said. "We heard that they referred to the abduction issue and spent a certain amount of time on the issue." | "It is a good thing that the United States and North Korea are talking," he said. "We heard that they referred to the abduction issue and spent a certain amount of time on the issue." |
| Wartime atonement | Wartime atonement |
| The abduction row has long threatened to dominate in the Japan-North Korea discussions. | The abduction row has long threatened to dominate in the Japan-North Korea discussions. |
| "Normalization [of ties] is impossible unless the abduction issue is resolved," Japan's chief envoy to the talks, Koichi Haraguchi, told the Associated Press. | "Normalization [of ties] is impossible unless the abduction issue is resolved," Japan's chief envoy to the talks, Koichi Haraguchi, told the Associated Press. |
| Mr Hill was optimistic about US-N Korea talks"We'll convey that message to the other side and urge them to fully face the problem and take positive steps." | Mr Hill was optimistic about US-N Korea talks"We'll convey that message to the other side and urge them to fully face the problem and take positive steps." |
| Pyongyang admitted in 2002 that it had abducted 13 Japanese citizens to train its spies. It returned five of them, but insists the others are dead. Tokyo doubts this and has demanded proof. | Pyongyang admitted in 2002 that it had abducted 13 Japanese citizens to train its spies. It returned five of them, but insists the others are dead. Tokyo doubts this and has demanded proof. |
| Because of the kidnapping row, Japan has so far refused to fund any part of the fuel aid agreed under the six-party deal. | Because of the kidnapping row, Japan has so far refused to fund any part of the fuel aid agreed under the six-party deal. |
| The two sides had agreed that Wednesday's talks would focus on the abduction issue. | The two sides had agreed that Wednesday's talks would focus on the abduction issue. |
| On Thursday they are due to discuss what for North Korea is its main priority at the talks - a request for Japan to atone for its 1910-1945 colonisation of the Korean peninsula. | On Thursday they are due to discuss what for North Korea is its main priority at the talks - a request for Japan to atone for its 1910-1945 colonisation of the Korean peninsula. |
| Japan has yet to formally apologise to North Korea for its often brutal wartime actions, because of the lack of diplomatic ties between the two countries. | Japan has yet to formally apologise to North Korea for its often brutal wartime actions, because of the lack of diplomatic ties between the two countries. |