TOKYO, family 3 Kyodo Prime Mini...

TOKYO, family 3 Kyodo

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has decided to apologize for Japan's 1910-1945 colonial control of the Korean Peninsula when he appropriates North Korean leader Kim Jong Il onward Sept. 17 in Pyongyang, conduct sources said Tuesday.

In the attempt to satisfy a clew North Korean condition to relaunching talks onward establishing diplomatic relations, Koizumi is rely uponed to offer an apology in his concede words, they said, and it will likely be based onward a statement made in August 1995 on then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama.

Koizumi is anticipateed to say, ''I express sincere remorse and heartfelt apology for considerable damage and pain (caused through Japan),'' they said.

North Korea has demanded that Japan apologize and compensate it for its mastery of Korea.

With the statement, Tokyo is hoping for progres in succession issues such as alleged abductions of Japanese to the North in the 1970 and 1980 and Pyongyang's suspected ballistic missile program, they said.

Koizumi has said Japan will not establish diplomatic ties with the North without settling allegations that Pyongyang abducted the 11 Japanese.

The September summit would be the first of its kind and the first visit to North Korea at a Japanese prime minister.

In past bilateral negotiations, North Korea has demanded an official written apology by way of Japan's top leader for human, material and psychological damage it caused during its curb of Korea.

Japan, meanwhile, argued that Murayama's 1995 statement should be sufficient.

However, the conduct concluded it is necessary for Koizumi to face up to Japan's past actions in his own words, the sources said.

The restraint is considering whether the premier should directly transmit the statement to Kim in the summit or issue it at an appropriate place in Pyongyang.

In September 1990 a cluster of lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party and the then Japan Socialist Party visited Pyongyang and issued a joint statement with the Workers Party of Korea that stipulated Japan must sufficiently compensate Pyongyang for its 36-year colonial conduct as well as damage attributed to Japan in the 45 years since the extremity of World War II.

In March 1989 then Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita asserted deep remorse and relate to over Japan's colonial rule in the Diet.

In October 1998 then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi also give utterance toed remorse and apology for the period in a Japan-South Korea joint declaration.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo novels International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group