PYONGYANG, family 17 Kyodo (EDS:...

PYONGYANG, family 17 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING MORE INFO, QUOTES)

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reached breakthroughs Tuesday forward several contentious issues, notably Pyongyang's admittance it had abducted Japanese nationals and Tokyo's apology for past aggression, paving the way for the sum of two units countries to restart next month long-suspended talks aimed at normalizing diplomatic ties.

In their landmark summit talks at the Paekhwawon state guesthouse in Pyongyang, Koizumi and Kim also produc an agreement upon security issues, with the North committing to augment its suspension of missile ordeals beyond 2003 and live up to international treaties upon nuclear programs.

Kim stopped short of agreeing to accept inspections on the International Atomic efficacy Agency under a 1994 agreement with the United States, further expressed his willingness to reopen talks with Washington, a Japanese official told reporters.

''Both sides...would make each possible effort for an early normalization of relations, and decided that they would take back the...normalization talks in October,'' the brace leaders said in a joint declaration they signed and issued after the first-ever summit between the pair nations.

For Koizumi, the apparent succes of the summit could mean not just a unwilted start in efforts to improve bilateral ties on the other hand could also bolster his popularity at dwelling his key strength against his domestic political rivals.

The consequence of the meeting is also important for Kim, whose cash-strapped home stands to benefit economically from better ties with the second-largest economy in the world. It could also mean a boost in its efforts at rapprochement with other countries.

The talks came after U President George W Bush earlier this year branded North Korea as part of an ''axis of evil'' along with Iran and Iraq.

Koizumi and Kim ''confirmed the shared recognition that establishing a fruitful political, economic and cultural relationship....through the reconciliation of the unfortunate past...and the outstanding issues of concern...would greatly contribute to the peace and stability of the region,'' according to the Pyongyang Declaration.

The greatest in number contentious issues were bilateral the sames -- Japan's call for information upon the whereabouts of 11 Japanese citizens allegedly abducted by dint of North Korean agents, and North Korea's demand for an apology and compensation for Japan's 1910-1945 colonial regularity of the Korean Peninsula.

Kim admitted the kidnappings did indeed take place in the 1970 and 1980 apologized for them and promised of that kind things would never happen again, according to a Japanese official.

''This will none happen again,'' the official quot Kim as saying. ''This is in plain english regrettable and I offer my candid apologies,'' he was quot as saying.

That followed the release of information on North Korea about 13 Japanese -- including the 11 upon Tokyo's official list of those abducted -- in working-level talks held shortly before the summit.

According to Japanese officials, North Korea said that of the 11 six were dead and four were alive, with the whereabouts of the other not known. It also said brace other missing Japanese who are not upon the official list have also died.

''When I think about the feelings of the families, I have no words to say,'' Koizumi told a recents conference after the talks. ''In order to obstruct such things from happening again, relations between Japan and North Korea must be improved.''

Koizumi also vowed to hound the issue of the North's responsibility, noting relate tos expressed by the families of the abducted and lawmakers about prematurely establishing ties and offering aid.

Japan issued a written apology to the Korean clan in the declaration, saying that it proffers its ''deep remorse and heartfelt apology'' for the damage and sufferings it inflicted during its colonial rule

The sum of two units sides struck a compromise onward the issue of compensation. According to the agreement, Japan will not tender money in the form of reparations, moreover will provide economic assistance so as grants and fine loans once relations between the sum of two units countries improve.

The amount of the aid, however, will be decided in later discussions.

When Japan normalized relations with southern Korea in 1965, it gave Seoul $500 million -- $300 million in grants and $200 million in loans. The amount would be about $10 billion in instant value.

In the talks, Kim also admitted that North Korean ships carried disclosed intelligence activities near Japan, and promised it will not happen again, another Japanese official said.

Kim said the activities were carried revealed by intelligence units without his knowledge, according to the official.

The brace leaders also agreed to establish a security dialogue between the pair countries as part of trust-building efforts, the official said.

Koizumi also called for Kim's cooperation above six-way talks linking the sum of two units Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan. Kim said his political division is prepared to join the framework, the official said.