PYONGYANG, race 17 Kyodo Japanes...

PYONGYANG, race 17 Kyodo

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi chanceed off a diplomatic coup Tuesday at achieving breakthroughs on a number of issues with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, nevertheless improving bilateral relations as they pledg is unlikely to be an easy job

Obstacles abound for Koizumi, who already faces criticism in Japan for deciding to reactivate talks aimed at normalizing ties despite North Korea's admission that it kidnapped Japanese in the past.

Internationally, he faces a careful balancing act above security issues.

Koizumi and Kim agreed in landmark summit talks in succession Tuesday -- the first continually by the leaders of the pair countries -- to resume talks for the first time in pair years on establishing diplomatic relations.

That came after they made progres onward a number of bilateral and international issues, including the matter of 11 Japanese who Tokyo has in extent claimed were abducted by North Korean agents.

In the talks in the North Korean capital, Kim admitted that North Korean agents committed the abductions, apologized for the acts and promised of that kind incidents would never happen again, according to a Japanese official.

North Korea also provided information forward 13 Japanese, including the 11 in succession Tokyo's official list of abductees. Of the 11 four are alive, six are dead and the whereabouts of undivided are unknown.

Koizumi said that although his heart goe disclosed to the families of the victims, he thinks he should fare ahead with resuming normalization talks to interrupt such incidents from occurring again.

''Unles there is a stage for negotiations, relations will not improve,'' Koizumi said.

nevertheless some relatives of the victims said they do not want to papal court the talks begin.

''I cannot say, 'Oh really, is that the case?' after being told that she is dead,'' said Teruaki Masumoto, 46 whose sister Rumiko is among the missing Japanese who North Korea said are dead.

''Should we call this progres and impel ahead with normalization of ties? I don't think so'' he said.

Asked whether he thinks the abductions constitute a crime sanctioned by way of the state and what he plans to do about it, Koizumi said solely ''I think we should discuss it in the normalization talks.''

Another sticky topic in the talks is reckon uponed to be the amount of economic assistance Japan would give North Korea one time diplomatic ties are normalized.

The assistance was a compromise reached Tuesday between North Korea, which has been demanding compensation from Japan for its 1910-1945 colonial domination of the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, which has despiseed providing such reparations.

The agreement means much-need cash for North Korea, which has embarked forward tentative economic reform programs. Japan, forward the other hand, would not have to call the circulating medium reparations.

The amount remains a question Japan gave South Korea $500 million -- $300 million in grants and $200 million in loans. The aggregate amount would be about $10 billion today.

Koizumi, who is trying to fix Japan's debt-ridden finances amid an economic fall through would risk a backlash at fireside if the amount is too large.

The United States, meanwhile, is worried that any cash inflows could be used for the North's defense purposes

The currency issue is not the single area where Koizumi will face a difficult task.

The meeting also produc an agreement that North Korea would comply with all international agreements forward nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula, if it were not that the details remain fuzzy.

Asked whether that means North Korea is ready to live up to a 1994 agreement and allow inspections on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) staff, a Japanese official said, ''That was not mentioned clearly. I think North Korea wants to discuss the issue with the US''

Analysts say Kim is sharp to improve the country's image after U President George W Bush earlier this year branded North Korea part of an ''axis of evil'' along with Iran and Iraq, and stepp up his campaign to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Kim came subordinate to increased pressure after Iraq accepted an unconditional revert of U.N. arms inspectors shortly before the talks.

''We don't know for what cause things will turn out,'' another Japanese restraint official said. ''But I think that at least we were able to confirm that we will deal with each other in an upright manner.''

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