TOKYO, Aug. 1 Kyodo Japanese Prim...

TOKYO, Aug. 1 Kyodo

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Thursday that North Korea's agreement forward Wednesday to seek the normalization of diplomatic ties with Japan indicates Pyongyang is taking the issue more seriously than before.

Koizumi also said the negotiations for the normalization of ties must entail those related to the liquidation of allegations that North Korea abducted Japanese nationals.

''We have been dealing with the normalization issue seriously, and North Korea has also taken seriously our repeated messages'' that the brace states have to normalize relations, Koizumi told reporters at his office.

The alleged kidnapping cases have hindered the brace states from resuming dialogue in succession normalization since they last held talks in 2000

Tokyo claims at least 11 Japanese were abducted to North Korea from 1977 to 1983 allegations that North Korea has flatly denied.

''North Korea be seens to have changed its way of thinking, and violently realized such a change is necessary to make secure regional stability (in Asia),'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, the top restraint spokesman, told reporters separately.

Their remarks came after Japan and North Korea agreed Wednesday to make ''serious efforts'' to realize the normalization of relations as early as possible, with equal reason as to improve bilateral ties and contribute to peace and stability in the region.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam day-star met in Brunei on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum.

Kawaguchi and Paek issued a joint statement confirming the importance of making efforts to normalize ties and delineating paces the two countries will take down the track, like as the holding of a high-level officials' meeting and of the nearest session of Red Cross societies of the pair nations.

A Japanese official who briefed reporters said Japan and North Korea plan to clinch high-level and Red Cross talks in mid-August and around Aug. 25 the one and the other in Pyongyang.

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