SWB
FE/1079 A3/1
A. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
3. FAR EASTERN RELATIONS
23 May 91
[1]
NORTH KOREA-JAPAN TALKS EXTENDED TO CONSIDER NORTH KOREA'S “COMPROMISE”
(a) Kyodo News Agency, Tokyo, in English 0632 gmt 21 May 91
Text of report (FE/1078 i [4])
Normalization talks between Japan and North Korea have hit a stalemate, with Pyongyang calling for the establishment of relations first, and Tokyo insisting that outstanding issues be resolved at the same time, Japanese officials said [on] Tuesday [21st May].
In Tuesday's morning session, Chon In-chol, chief North Korean delegate, repeated the North Korean position that the two sides should first discuss basic issues relating to territorial sovereignty and normalization of diplomatic relations.
Chon also demanded that other issues, such as Japanese compensation to North Korea and the Japanese call for international inspection of North Korean nuclear facilities, be discussed after establishment of diplomatic relations, according to the officials.
Chon added that the negotiations will hit a snag if Japan does not accept the North Korean position.
But chief Japanese negotiator Noboru Nakahira rejected the North Korean arguments, saying all the issues should be discussed at the same time and before normalizing relations.
Tuesday's talks, the second day of the third round of the negotiations, were held at the North Korean embassy in Peking. Monday's talks were held at the Japanese embassy.
After breaking for lunch before noon, the talks were to be resumed around 3.00 pm.
(b) Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang, in English 0416 gmt 22 May 91
Text of report
The second-day session of the third full-dress inter- governmental talks for the normalization of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Japan continued in Peking in the afternoon today [21st May].
Chon In-chol, head of the DPRK government delegation, gave a news briefing after the afternoon session. He said discussion continued in the afternoon on how to steer the talks according to the new proposal which had been made by our side.
For the progress of our talks, he said, our side put forward one more new proposal on the first item on the agenda and the sides exchanged views on it. The sides decided to continue the third full-dress talks on 22nd May, he said and added: The debate on the first item on the agenda will be continued and then other agenda items will be discussed tomorrow.
He answered questions put by reporters.
(c) Kyodo News Agency, Tokyo, in English 0516 gmt 22 May 91
Text of report
Japanese negotiators postponed the start of the third day of normalization talks with North Korea [on] Wednesday morning [22nd May] as they were considering carefully how to respond to a new North Korean proposal, Japanese officials said.
The negotiations, which had already been extended by one day to consider the new proposal, are expected to resume later [on] Wednesday afternoon at the Japanese embassy, the officials said.
The proposal, offered [on] Tuesday by the North Koreans and still undisclosed publicly, has been called a "compromise" by the North Koreans and reportedly pertains to Pyongyang's claim of jurisdiction over the Korean peninsula.
Japan is fundamentally opposed to the new proposal, sources in the Japanese delegation have indicated, suggesting that it is unlikely to assist progress in the negotiations.
OTHER REPORTS ON KOREA AND JAPAN
[2]
Japanese delegation holds party for DPRK delegation in Peking The Japanese government delegation to the normalization talks with the DPRK held a reception for the DPRK government delegation in Peking on 22nd May. Noboru Nakahira, the head of the Japanese delegaton, said that the agreement between the sides on continuing the talks on 22nd May "reflected their will to promote the talks for the normalization of diplomatic relations”. (Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang, in English 0447 gmt 22 May 91)
[3]
'Nodong Sinmun' denounces South Korean Premier's lecture on democracy (Excerpts) South Korean "Prime Minister" No Chae-pong in a “lecture” on 20th May described the "disorder" in South Korea as an “inevitable pain” in the course of "development towards democracy".
'Nodong Sinmun' today [22nd May] lashes out at his foolish rigmarole as utterances to justify their reckless bayonet-brandishing and fascist row of suppression against the anti-US, anti-fascist struggle of South Korean students and people which is growing acute after the murder of student Kang Kyong-tae and to shirk the responsibility for the butchery of fellow countrymen committed by his clique.
The news analyst says: South Korea has neither experienced democracy nor advanced towards it so far... As for No Chae-pong, he is the boss of the puppet administration, the murderous "cabinet”, the general resignation of which is unanimously demanded by South Korean people... (Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang, in English 0451 gmt 22 May 91)