Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's one-day visit to North Korea on Sept. 17 is likely to have a profound effect on the security situation in Northeast Asia. The two nations started normalization talks in 1991, but thus far no substantial progress has been made because of the alleged abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents, North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons program, its test firings of Taepodong missiles and spy ship intrusions into Japanese waters.
These and other incidents have created tensions between North Korea and the United States as well. Relations between North and South Korea have hardly improved.
As to why he is going to Pyongyang, Koizumi said he wants to open the way for resumption of the normalization talks through "frank dialogue" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Koizumi's courageous decision is welcome.