Japan and North Korea are moving toward resuming the long-stalled talks to normalize relations. Foreign ministry officials from the two nations met in Pyongyang for two days earlier this week and agreed to continue consultations to explore the possibilities for restarting the negotiations. Also, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il exchanged a message of good will for the first time through diplomatic channels.
There is no assurance, however, that these consultations will lead to the resumption of normalization talks. The fact remains that, more than half a century after the end of World War II, Japan and North Korea still have no diplomatic ties. This is bad not only for the two countries but also for stability in East Asia. Tokyo and Pyongyang must step up efforts to restore official ties as soon as possible.
The latest meeting of working-level officials -- the first since the last round of normalization talks broke down in October 2000 -- discussed a variety of problems, including the alleged abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents and North Korean claims for Japanese wartime compensation. However, no specific results have come out except for an agreement to meet again within a month to decide whether to reopen the normalization talks.