Japan's PM Urges North Korea to Return to Talks

Mar 20, 08:49 AM

Current Headlines: Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo

Tokyo, March 20 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged North Korea on Tuesday to engage seriously in ongoing six-nation nuclear talks and to fulfil its promise to denuclearize, warning that Pyongyang would otherwise continue to face severe problems.

Asked to comment on North Korea's refusal Tuesday to attend the second-day session of the six-way talks in Beijing, Abe told reporters, "For as long as North Korea adopts this kind of attitude, it will not be able to change the circumstances it is currently facing."

"It's useless to analyse and respond every time to North Korea's attitude in negotiations," said Abe, who is known for his hawkish stance on Pyongyang.

"North Korea must realize that without fully carrying out (earlier) agreements at the six-party talks, it will not be able to get what it wants to get and also will not be accepted by the international community," Abe said.

The six-party talks, involving North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States, stalled Tuesday as North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan refused to hold meetings until North Korea confirms the release of Pyongyang-linked funds frozen at a Macao bank.

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