Japan to Set up Liaison Office in Pyongyang

North Korea and Japan started the preparatory work for the historic summit between the leaders of the two countries. For that purpose Japan decided to set up a liaison office in Pyongyang.

A Japanese delegation headed by Japan`s senior foreign ministry official Hitoshi Tanaka and held a meeting with North Korea`s foreign ministry officials in Beijing, China for two days from Aug. 31. In the two-day meeting, both sides discussed ways to successfully hold the summit talks. Tanaka also visited Tang Jiaxuan, China`s Foreign Minister, on the 31st to explain how Japan and North Korea agreed to hold the summit and to ask for support.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government decided to dispatch a 14-strong advance team to North Korea to set up a liaison office in a hotel in Pyongyang for a smooth preparation of the proposed summit. The delegates are expected to go to Pyongyang via Beijing on Sep. 3 and discuss practical issues with their North Korean counterparts. The issues include specific timetable for the summit, accommodation, security, communications and flight route.

The Japanese government plans to dispatch an official, who has been in charge of North Korean affairs in its embassy in China to North Korea. The official would take command of the liaison office even after the summit talks.

Young-Ee Lee yes202@donga.com