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Japan-N Korea talks stall again Japan-N Korea talks finish early
(about 4 hours later)
Talks between Japan and North Korea on normalising ties have been suspended again, after less than an hour. Talks between Japan and North Korea on normalising ties have broken up early without agreement.
The two nations had already cut short their discussions on Wednesday, but were persuaded to come back to the table to try again on Thursday. The meeting in Vietnam's capital Hanoi lasted less than an hour, and no date was announced for follow-up talks.
The latest session lasted just 45 minutes, and no more talks are planned. Talks on Wednesday were also cut short after the North reportedly objected to Japan's stance on the abduction of its citizens in the 1970s and 80s.
No reason has been given, but analysts say the walkout is probably due to an ongoing row over the North's abduction of Japanese citizens decades ago. Tokyo believes the North is not being honest about the fate of the abductees, who were abducted to train its spies.
Pyongyang admitted in 2002 that it had abducted 13 Japanese citizens to train its spies in the 1970s and 80s. It returned five of them, but insists the others are dead. Pyongyang admitted in 2002 that it had abducted 13 Japanese citizens. It returned five of them, but insists the others are dead.
Japan wants North Korea to give a full account of the abductions, but North Korea says this issue cannot be allowed to overshadow the main aim of the discussions - to normalise relations. Japan wants North Korea to give a full account of the abductions. The North, for its part, wants Japan to pay reparations for its occupation of Korea in the early part of the last century.
Because of the kidnapping row, Japan has so far refused to fund any part of the fuel aid in a recently agreed six-party deal aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme. Because of the kidnapping row, Japan has so far refused to fund any part of the fuel aid pledged in a recently agreed six-party deal aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme.
Under the deal, Pyongyang agreed to "shut down and seal" a key nuclear facility and admit UN nuclear inspectors in return for 50,000 metric tons 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 metric tons of fuel oil.
Delicate issue History of tensions
Japan's foreign ministry said the two sides had "stated each other's position" on the issue of abductions and reparations when they met on Thursday morning.
"We will continue to exchange views," the ministry statement continued, confirming that the talks were over.
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 Abductees cloud talks Heartbreak over missing
Following the break-up of the talks, North Korean envoy Song Il-ho described Japan's position as "an unreasonable insistence", saying the issue of abductions had been "completely resolved".
Japan's chief envoy Koichi Haraguchi said of the North Koreans: "I hope they understand the consequences."
The talks were in trouble almost as soon as they began, after Pyongyang cancelled an afternoon session on the first day, Wednesday.
No official reason was given, but Japanese officials said the North Koreans reacted after Mr Haraguchi set out Japan's position on the abduction issue.
Japan and North Korea have a long history of tensions, and the bilateral talks in Hanoi were never expected to be easy.Japan and North Korea have a long history of tensions, and the bilateral talks in Hanoi were never expected to be easy.
It is the first time both sides have met for more than a year
But in the wake of the six-party agreement reached in Beijing, there has been a renewed sense of optimism among the international community that relations with North Korea can improve.But in the wake of the six-party agreement reached in Beijing, there has been a renewed sense of optimism among the international community that relations with North Korea can improve.
It is no surprise that the thorny issue of abductions has dominated the Japan-North Korea discussions, analysts say, as it is an important, emotive topic in Japan.It is no surprise that the thorny issue of abductions has dominated the Japan-North Korea discussions, analysts say, as it is an important, emotive topic in Japan.
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/6423883.stm">Abductees cloud talks class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2263822.stm">Heartbreak over missing "Normalisation of ties is impossible unless the abduction issue is resolved," Mr Haraguchi told reporters before the two-day meeting began on Wednesday.
"Normalisation of ties is impossible unless the abduction issue is resolved," chief Japanese envoy to the talks, Koichi Haraguchi, told reporters before the two-day meeting began on Wednesday.
"We will press once again our basic position on the abduction issue, so that it will get across clearly to the North Korean leadership," he said again before Thursday's meeting.
No official reason for the latest breakdown in talks has been given, but Japanese officials said that Wednesday's discussions had come to a standstill after Mr Haraguchi set out Japan's position on the abduction issue, and it looks likely that the same issue stalled the talks on Thursday.
The tense atmosphere at the Hanoi talks is in sharp contrast to negotiations between North Korea and the US earlier this week in New York - which were also brought about as a result of the six-party deal.The tense atmosphere at the Hanoi talks is in sharp contrast to negotiations between North Korea and the US earlier this week in New York - which were also brought about as a result of the six-party deal.
At the close of those talks, US chief negotiator Christopher Hill voiced a "sense of optimism" that Pyongyang would stick to its commitments under the six-party deal.At the close of those talks, US chief negotiator Christopher Hill voiced 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.