Japan-N Korea talks described as 'matter-of-fact, frank'

Ok, what does North Korea want from Japan?? More $$$?? More food?? You always pay a price when you deal with the DPRK!

Japan will keep repeating the same bitter subject of abduction cases. The J-goverment has one diminsional objectives and what do you think NK will tell them? Same thing as in the 2008 meeting. How about changing the subject to economics and trade, and what can be done to improve the relations between Japan and NK? Or do Japan and NK want to continue the same path as last 50 years? Nothing will change.

I disagree sfjp330, I think we are lokking at sometjing new here. NKorea is under new leadership, we know NKorea is looking to inprove iots economic and trade relations with other countries in order to reduce their complete dependence on China, and the NKorean leadership may have decided to take advantage of Lee Yun Bak's wrecking relations wkth Japan. Don';t be surpirised if it isn'; the same old same old as usual .

Japan needs to move forward and why the abductions is sad it is in the past. Isolating The Peoples Republic is doing more harm than good. If makes them China's puppets. Relations need to be improved up to including normal relations. So they tried to explode nukes why are they worse than Pakistan? The country that hid Bin Laden. South Korea considers Japan their enemy. I say then let it be true, it is certain they are not our friends. Did you know it is not safe for Americans and Japanese to visit?

Japan needs to move forward and why the abductions is sad it is in the past. Isolating The Peoples Republic is doing more harm than good. If makes them China's puppets. Relations need to be improved up to including normal relations. So they tried to explode nukes why are they worse than Pakistan? The country that hid Bin Laden. South Korea considers Japan their enemy. I say then let it be true, it is certain they are not our friends. Did you know it is not safe for Americans and Japanese to visit South Korea?

As SunTzu said: Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.

Given NK's well documented history of not living up to it's promises and out-right lying, I think it would be wise to be extremely careful in discussing material rewards. Any reward or aid should only be given after the North has fully met its end of the agreement. I would not even advise reciprocal or simultaneous steps as the North has taken as much as they can and then sabatoged the deal numerous times in the past with multiple partners. While the changing leadership in the North might (MIGHT) be willing to turn over a new leaf, I would want to see proof in the form of tangible actions first.

In regard to those that think the Japanese Government is blinded by its desire for a resolution on the abduction issue, I say of course they are and rightly so. No elected government could possibly take a pass on the kidnapping and forcible detainment of it's own citizens, period.

I do not know how much play this is getting or how credible the report is, but the Sunday edition of the Daily Yomiuri reported that Kim Jong-Un's sister has been charged with the care of Megumi Yokota. Admitedly the report is not sourced and thus open to debate. I however, feel that this lends credence to the idea that she is still alive and has not been released because she knows far more about the North's spying than they would want her to reveal.

Graham: "Given NK's well documented history of not living up to it's promises and out-right lying..."

It takes two to tango. Japan has reneged on its promises to NK a number of times; sometimes in 'retaliation' for NKorea doing so, sometimes in bending to pressure from right-wing extremists at home. Either way, both are rather notorious for not living up to their word.

Anyway, I just came on to say that I hope SOME progress can be made, though I see little of significance being accomplished. Japan will, as usual, open the house by demanding progress on the abduction issue in exchange for certain aid (which they may have to renege on even if NK gave in, because the right-wingers would immediately object to any aid based on NK revealing more facts about abductees), and NK will probably demand aid before saying anything else on the issue and/or say the issue has been resolved. Still, it's a face-to-face encounter, which is better than it's been for a while. They only way it could be TRULY negative is if it worsens relations through bickering, especially since for Japan tensions with South Korea and China are at an all-time high.

Good luck!

North Korea is desperate for food and economic assistance. It would be great if the Japanese and the North Koreans settle their differences, if only to highlight that the South Koreans are just as aggresive and threatening as their Northern neighbours. If South Korea was surrounded by two nations with thawed relations then they might stop rattling their Takeshima issue so aggesively.

Graham: "I do not know how much play this is getting or how credible the report is, but the Sunday edition of the Daily Yomiuri reported that Kim Jong-Un's sister has been charged with the care of Megumi Yokota."

Sounds like more nonsense to me, with ZERO proof to boot, and the saddest part of it is that it will get the Yokotas' hopes up again only to be dashed again, and increase right-wing rhetoric, which would sandbag the talks. It's absolutely irresponsible reporting to publish such an article when it's so clear the contents are questionable at best.

" I however, feel that this lends credence to the idea that she is still alive and has not been released because she knows far more about the North's spying than they would want her to reveal."

Sounds like wishful thinking. The woman who was a former NK spy who came here and was given millions to make vague statements about thinking she saw someone who looked like Megumi, or hearing from someone who heard from someone who heard from someone that she was still alive, was one example of how a lot of people here will let wishful thinking take precedence over any kind of factual proof.

North Korea, meanwhile, craves trade with Japan yet blasts its military alliance with the United States, colonization of the Korean peninsula in the first half of the 20th century and treatment of ethnic Koreans in Japan.

Treatment of Koreans in Japan?? The Japanese have been totally civil with the Korean population in Japan. They even have a society linked to the regime in Pyongyang that is permitted to operate within Japan. And ethnic Koreans are permitted to live and work in Japan. Would that happen in North or even South Korea!

Treatment of Koreans in Japan?? The Japanese have been totally civil with the Korean population in Japan. They even have a society linked to the regime in Pyongyang that is permitted to operate within Japan. And ethnic Koreans are permitted to live and work in Japan. Would that happen in North or even South Korea!

That has got to be a joke, many Korean Japanese are still discriminated against unless they change their names to Japanese names.

Sure many Koreans are here in Japan but to say that there is NO discrimination against them????? Sure!! Keep on smoking banana peels and/or your underwear mate!!

That has got to be a joke, many Korean Japanese are still discriminated against unless they change their names to Japanese names.

Thomas Anderson/ Elbuda, I am not joking at all. The article states that North Korea is upset with the treatment of ethnic Koreans in Japan which is hypocrisy of the highest order. The Japanese are far more civilised when it comes to the treatment of ethnic Koreans in Japan. Pyongyang even has it's own association in Japan, despite the abductions and whilst living in Japan I am amazed that a North Korean association is permitted at all. The Japanese national football team had a prominent starting member called Lee without any issues (could you imagine either of the Koreas having a Japanese name in their sporting teams!) and ethnic Koreans can live peacefully in Japan. Can you imagine being Japanese and living in North or South Korea at the moment! Neither of you have a clue.

Thomas Anderson/ Elbuda, maybe you should try living in either of the Koreas and compare it to life in Japan as a foreigner. The Japanese may not be perfect when it comes to international relations, but they are far, far more cosmopolitan and sociable with foreigners than the Koreans.

Thomas Anderson: "That has got to be a joke, many Korean Japanese are still discriminated against unless they change their names to Japanese names."

Even if they DO change their names there are still cases of discrimination as they often choose names that are not so common. A woman in my old neighbourhood would tell me, "That camera shop owner's name is such and such... I think he's Korean!" in a rather unkind tone.

TigersTokyoDome: "The Japanese may not be perfect when it comes to international relations, but they are far, far more cosmopolitan and sociable with foreigners than the Koreans."

While perhaps it may seem this way on the surface, it is not always so. Don't say one group of people is more hospital than the other EXACTLY when you are slamming the other (ie. not very hospitable, is it?).

Anyway, I highly doubt talks with NK would change the treatment of ethnic Koreans here, or at the very least that is not at all going to be at the forefront save for a possible excuse for NK to get worked up and try to curry favour.

smithinjapanAug. 29, 2012 - 05:55PM JST "Graham: "I do not know how much play this is getting or how credible the report is, but the Sunday edition of the Daily Yomiuri reported that Kim Jong-Un's sister has been charged with the care of Megumi Yokota." Sounds like more nonsense to me, with ZERO proof to boot

The source is South Korean Intelligence.

And again, no compassionate government would ever just give up on it's citizens, even if there is not a real hope of recovering them alive, and sweep the whole issue under the rug for the sake of better relations. "Sure, you kidnapped and possibly murdered some of our citizens FROM THEIR OWN COUNTRY. But hey, what's a little abduction among friends?" Really? THAT is the position that some of you would have the govt. take?

"Graham, the government must deal in the macro-sense. It cannot put the interests of a few, probably dead, citizens (and their parents) ahead of the interests of 127 million others." (I believe this is your arguement more properly worded.)

My response would be, "In the general perspective I can see your point, but let me ask a follow-up question. If we cannot trust them to keep thier word and tell the truth on an issue as "settled" or "tactical" as this, how can we possibly trust them to keep their promises on ANY issue?"

The bottom line message to the North should be, "If they are alive, you know where they are. Give them back NOW. If they are dead, you know where they are and what happened. Tell us the truth in a verifiable manner. No more ludicrous reports of people dying in traffic accidents in a land of few cars and less fuel to run them. No more bone fragments that are proven to be not only not of that person, but not of the same sex. Tell us the truth, prove it, THEN we will talk about better relations and aid. Until then, enjoy your upcomming winter."

It takes two to tango. Japan has reneged on its promises to NK a number of times; sometimes in 'retaliation' for NKorea doing so, sometimes in bending to pressure from right-wing extremists at home. Either way, both are rather notorious for not living up to their word.

Overused cliche that's not even applicable here.

As Graham indicated, NK stance from the beginning was that there was NOBODY that was abducted. Then some returned but when asked the whereabout of others, auto accidents where there is very little cars and creamated remains in which North Korea doesn't even have a custom of creamation, multiple incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning with all those bodies went missing because of the flood (WTF??).

So yeah. Any person with "common" sense can immediately determine that NK was not upfront in regards to solving the abduction issue. So no. There is no "give" and "take" unless NK completely fullfills their obligation. That's been Japan's position from the very beginning since 2002 and has not strayed since then.

nigelboy right on the money.

Funny isn't it. The "South" Koreans demand a(nother) apology from the Emperor for crimes against Koreans of more than 70 years ago, yet have a very short memory in respect of much more recent crimes by Koreans against Japanese civilians. How come the Japanese don't demand apologies from the Koreans on a constant basis? All the Japanese have asked for is a truthful explanation and the whereabouts of it's citizens that were kidnapped. No need for embarrassing requests for apologies.

If J-government stays in a current position, this could restrict efforts to find an overall solution for NK issues. What Japan needs to do is to change course in diplomacy, and steer away from its current hostile policy. Japan relies too heavily on the U.S. opinions in addressing NK issues. Problem for Japan is that there is not much that they can do on its own to effectively put pressure on NK. For Japan, working with other six-party members and the broader international community might be more important. Japan will most likely discuss with China on influence over NK. In NK, not much as change to who is in charge. The old generals and leaders from late Kim Jun Il's group decides the policy making. I doubt their new leader, Kim Jung Un, who is much younger with very little experience has much influence on their decison making for a while.

Its sad to see they STILL don't get along. even in ancient times they didn't like each other, I have several friends from japan and a few from korea and they all agree, this same thing has been going on for hundreds if not over a thousand years. Its time to bury the friggin hatchet already! I hate to see two nations hate each other like that simply because its more or less, a tradition. Its just sad. Culture and tradition is great and all but it really slows you down sometimes. :/

Japan and North Korea on Wednesday held their first face-to-face talks in four years, in an attempt to lay the groundwork to overcome decades of mutual distrust

Mutual distrust? Then blame everything on NK.

How many time did they break them all? How many times did we walk extra miles to satisfy the demand of NK? They have to EARN the trust first.

mexicano@ Do not belittle the North Korean gov't and her peoples. They never begs anything from anybody specially from Japan.