Japan, DPRK to hold talks in Beijing

TOKYO - Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will hold next round of talks between senior officials on Dec 5 and 6 in Beijing so as to further discuss issues concerned by both sides, a senior official said Tuesday.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura made the announcement Tuesday and said the DPRK will be represented by Song Il Ho, ambassador for talks to normalize relations with Japan, and Japan by Shinsuke Sugiyama, director general of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at the Japan's Foreign Ministry.

Japan's Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said in the same occasion that with cautious negotiation, his country intends to achieve outcomes in the talks.

The two countries held a two-day meeting in Mongolian capital, Ulan Bator, on Nov 15 and 16, achieving an agreement to continue talks over deadlock issue of abduction.

Abductions in the 1970s and 1980s by the DPRK have been one of the major obstacles  between the two countries to establish diplomatic ties.