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Japan keeps sanctions on N Korea Japan keeps sanctions on N Korea
(30 minutes later)
Japan will maintain its sanctions on North Korea despite Pyongyang's agreement to return to six-party talks about its nuclear weapons programme.Japan will maintain its sanctions on North Korea despite Pyongyang's agreement to return to six-party talks about its nuclear weapons programme.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said the North's decision was welcome but Japan would continue to demand that it give up all its nuclear activities. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said the North's decision was welcome, but Japan would continue to demand that it give up all its nuclear activities.
Agreement to restart the discussions came at a meeting on Tuesday in Beijing between North Korea, China and the US.Agreement to restart the discussions came at a meeting on Tuesday in Beijing between North Korea, China and the US.
Pyongyang tested a nuclear weapon last month, prompting UN sanctions.Pyongyang tested a nuclear weapon last month, prompting UN sanctions.
"It is truly welcome that the talks are set to be resumed soon, but we cannot merely celebrate, saying 'that's great'", Japan's Kyodo news agency quoted Mr Aso as saying. "It is truly welcome that the talks are set to be resumed soon, but we cannot merely celebrate, saying 'that's great'," Japan's Kyodo news agency quoted Mr Aso as saying.
"We will continue to demand that North Korea give up all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programme.""We will continue to demand that North Korea give up all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programme."
Financial sanctions
Japan reacted quickly after Pyongyang conducted its nuclear test on 9 October, imposing measures that include a ban on all North Korean imports and a prohibition on its ships entering Japanese waters.Japan reacted quickly after Pyongyang conducted its nuclear test on 9 October, imposing measures that include a ban on all North Korean imports and a prohibition on its ships entering Japanese waters.
Financial sanctions
In the aftermath of the nuclear test, there was a flurry of diplomatic activity designed to bring the North Koreans back to the negotiating table.
KOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005: At first hailed as a breakthrough, North Korea agrees to give up nuclear activitiesNext day, N Korea says it will not scrap its activities unless it gets a civilian nuclear reactorUS imposes financial sanctions on N Korea businessesJuly 2006: N Korea test-fires seven missilesUN Security Council votes to impose sanctions over the testsOct 2006: N Korea claims to have carried out nuclear test N Korea's mercurial leader N Korea nuclear timelineKOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005: At first hailed as a breakthrough, North Korea agrees to give up nuclear activitiesNext day, N Korea says it will not scrap its activities unless it gets a civilian nuclear reactorUS imposes financial sanctions on N Korea businessesJuly 2006: N Korea test-fires seven missilesUN Security Council votes to impose sanctions over the testsOct 2006: N Korea claims to have carried out nuclear test N Korea's mercurial leader N Korea nuclear timeline
Rising regional tensions provoked intense diplomatic activity, particularly by the Chinese, who have the most leverage on Pyongyang. Efforts were particularly focused on the Chinese, who have the most leverage on Pyongyang.
That pressure seemed to produce results on Tuesday when it was announced in Beijing that North Korea had agreed to return to the six-party discussions. That pressure seemed to produce results on Tuesday when it was announced in Beijing that North Korea had agreed to return to the six-party discussions - which involve the two Koreas, the US, China, Japan and Russia.
Pyongyang confirmed its decision on Wednesday, saying it would seek the lifting of US financial sanctions. North Korea pulled out of the talks in 2005 in protest at the move by the Washington. Pyongyang confirmed its decision on Wednesday, adding that it would use the talks to seek the lifting of US financial sanctions. North Korea pulled out of the talks in 2005 in protest at Washington's decision to impose such sanctions.
North Korea's foreign ministry said Pyongyang decided to return to the talks on the premise that the sanctions issue "will be discussed and settled between the DPRK (North Korea) and the US within the framework of the six-party talks". North Korea's foreign ministry said Pyongyang had decided to return to the talks on the premise that the sanctions issue "will be discussed and settled between the DPRK (North Korea) and the US within the framework of the six-party talks".
The statement was carried by North Korea's official KCNA news agency. As well as Japan, the other members of the six-nation talks all welcomed the decision to resume discussions.
US President George W Bush hailed the agreement reached in Beijing. US President George W Bush hailed the news, but added that it would not halt US efforts to enforce a UN Security Council resolution passed in response to the North's atomic test.
Mr Bush added that the agreement would not halt US efforts to enforce a UN Security Council resolution passed in response to the North's atomic test.
"We'll be sending teams to the region to work with our partners to make sure that the current United Nations Security Council resolution is enforced, but also to make sure that the talks are effective, that we achieve the results we want - which is a North Korea that abandons her nuclear weapons programmes and her nuclear weapons in a verifiable fashion in return for a better way forward for her people," he said."We'll be sending teams to the region to work with our partners to make sure that the current United Nations Security Council resolution is enforced, but also to make sure that the talks are effective, that we achieve the results we want - which is a North Korea that abandons her nuclear weapons programmes and her nuclear weapons in a verifiable fashion in return for a better way forward for her people," he said.
The other participants to the six-party talks - South Korea and Russia - have also welcomed the announcement.
Ongoing crisisOngoing crisis
N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closelyN KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely
The talks began in 2003 to find a way to resolve the crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear programme. The six-party talks began in 2003 to find a way to resolve the crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.
They appeared to make an historic breakthrough in September 2005 when North Korea announced it would give up its nuclear activities and rejoin the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.They appeared to make an historic breakthrough in September 2005 when North Korea announced it would give up its nuclear activities and rejoin the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
But within months, optimism crumbled as North Korea withdrew from the talks in protest at US financial sanctions, under which about $24m (£14m) of funds had been frozen.But within months, optimism crumbled as North Korea withdrew from the talks in protest at US financial sanctions, under which about $24m (£14m) of funds had been frozen.
North Korea's decision to test seven missiles in July and then carry out a nuclear weapon test on 9 October drew international condemnation.North Korea's decision to test seven missiles in July and then carry out a nuclear weapon test on 9 October drew international condemnation.