Japanese and North Korean negotiators began a new round of talks Monday on establishing diplomatic ties, with the focus likely to be on Pyongyang's demands that Tokyo apologize and pay compensation for its 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
The two countries are expected to enter substantial negotiations in the two days of talks in the Chinese capital, their third session this year. They spent the last two rounds clarifying their basic positions.
"It is my understanding that we will finally enter specific negotiations from this meeting," said Japan's top negotiator, Ambassador Kojiro Takano, at the outset of the talks, which are being held at the Japanese Embassy.
"I strongly hope that relations between the two countries will become truly close," Takano said.