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Japan-N Korea talks stall again Japan-N Korea talks stall again
(20 minutes later)
Talks between Japan and North Korea on normalising ties have been cancelled again, after less than an hour. Talks between Japan and North Korea on normalising ties have been suspended again, after less than an hour.
The two nations had already cut short their discussions on Wednesday, citing ongoing differences, but were persuaded to come back to the table on Thursday. The two nations had already cut short their discussions on Wednesday, but were persuaded to come back to the table to try again on Thursday.
The latest session lasted just 45 minutes, and no more talks are planned.The latest session lasted just 45 minutes, and no more talks are planned.
No reason has been given, but analysts say the walkout is probably due to a row over the North's abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 80s. No reason has been given, but analysts say the walkout is probably due to an ongoing row over the North's abduction of Japanese citizens decades ago.
Pyongyang admitted in 2002 that it had abducted 13 Japanese citizens to train its spies. Pyongyang admitted in 2002 that it had abducted 13 Japanese citizens to train its spies in the 1970s and 80s. It returned five of them, but insists the others are dead.
It returned five of them, but insists the others are dead. Tokyo doubts this and has demanded proof. Japan wants North Korea to give a full account of the abductions, but North Korea says this issue cannot be allowed to overshadow the main aim of the discussions - to normalise relations.
Because of the kidnapping row, Japan has so far refused to fund any part of the fuel aid in a recently agreed six-party deal aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme.Because of the kidnapping row, Japan has so far refused to fund any part of the fuel aid in a recently agreed six-party deal aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme.
Under the deal, Pyongyang agreed to "shut down and seal" a key nuclear facility and admit UN nuclear inspectors in return for 50,000 metric tons of fuel oil.
Delicate issue
Japan and North Korea have a long history of tensions, and the bilateral talks in Hanoi were never expected to be easy.
But in the wake of the six-party agreement reached in Beijing, there has been a renewed sense of optimism among the international community that relations with North Korea can improve.
It is no surprise that the thorny issue of abductions has dominated the Japan-North Korea discussions, analysts say, as it is an important, emotive topic in Japan.
JAPAN'S MISSING Snatched in the '70s and '80sUsed as cultural trainers for N Korean spiesFive allowed home in 2002Five children now freed from N KoreaEight said to be dead, others missing Abductees cloud talks Heartbreak over missing
"Normalisation of ties is impossible unless the abduction issue is resolved," chief Japanese envoy to the talks, Koichi Haraguchi, told reporters before the two-day meeting began on Wednesday.
"We will press once again our basic position on the abduction issue, so that it will get across clearly to the North Korean leadership," he said again before Thursday's meeting.
No official reason for the latest breakdown in talks has been given, but Japanese officials said that Wednesday's discussions had come to a standstill after Mr Haraguchi set out Japan's position on the abduction issue, and it looks likely that the same issue stalled the talks on Thursday.
The tense atmosphere at the Hanoi talks is in sharp contrast to negotiations between North Korea and the US earlier this week in New York - which were also brought about as a result of the six-party deal.
At the close of those talks, US chief negotiator Christopher Hill voiced a "sense of optimism" that Pyongyang would stick to its commitments under the six-party deal.
"They were good, businesslike and very comprehensive discussions," Mr Hill told reporters.