Six-Party Talks on North Korean Issues
(Overview and Evaluation)

September 2003

I. Six-Party Talks

1. Schedule

(1) Date: August 27-29

Place: Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Beijing

(2) Proceedings

(a) August 27: Opening ceremony, plenary meeting, bilateral meetings

(b) August 28: Plenary meeting

(c) August 29: Closing ceremony

(3) Heads of delegation

Japan: Ambassador Mitoji Yabunaka
USA: Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly
ROK: Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck
China: Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi
Russia: Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov
North Korea: Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il

2. Japan's Position Expressed at the Six-Party Talks

(1) Regarding the nuclear weapons development issue, North Korea must immediately dismantle all its nuclear weapons development programs in a complete, irreversible, and verifiable manner.

(2) No country, including the United States, has a hostile policy toward North Korea. If however North Korea insists that they continue to hold security concern Japan is ready to consider it in the process of the six-party talks on the premise that North Korea properly dismantles its nuclear development program.

(3) Japan also referred to the issues of North Korea ballistic missile program and its biological and chemical weapons.

(4) If North Korea takes concrete measures toward the dismantlement of its nuclear development program, it will be possible at an appropriate time to deepen discussions on energy support for North Korea.

(5) There is no change in Japan's basic positions of settling outstanding issues of concern based on the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration and normalizing relations in a manner that would contribute to the peace and stability of the Northeast Asia region. The nuclear problem, the missile problem, and the abduction issue must be solved before the normalization of the relations between Japan and North Korea. Japan will provide economic cooperation to North Korea only after the normalization of the relations between Japan and North Korea is achieved. The abduction issue, must be solved through concrete discussions between Japan and North Korea. Solution of the abduction issue is essential for reaching a comprehensive solution of the problem.

3. Host Country Summary by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the following points at a press conference to summarize the plenary meetings:

(1) The participants in the six-party talks agreed to solve the nuclear problem peacefully through dialogue, to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and to pave the way for permanent peace.

(2) The participants in the six-party talks called for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and shared the view that North Korea's reasonable concern over its security must be considered and resolved.

(3) The participants in the six-party talks agreed to seek a fair and realistic resolution in a manner that is phased and synchronized or parallel in implementation.

(4) The participants in the six-party talks agreed not to take actions that could escalate the situation in the process of resolving the issue peacefully.

(5) The participants in the six-party talks agreed to build mutual confidence, narrow the differences in opinions, and expand their common views through dialogue.

(6) The participants in the six-party talks agreed to continue the process of the six-party talks and to decide as soon as possible through diplomatic routes the place and time of the next meeting.

II. Contact Between Japan and North Korea

1. Contact on August 28

(1) The two delegations discussed the abduction issue and the nuclear problem. Regarding the abduction issue, the Japanese side strongly called for the return to Japan of the families of abduction victims and full investigation of the issue.

(2) In return the North Korean side repeated its previous statements that, for example, Japan has broken its promise.

2. Contact on August 29

(1) Statements by the head of the North Korean delegation, Vice-Minister Kim:

(a) There is a firm basis between Japan and North Korea in the form of the Pyongyang Declaration.

(b) Bilateral problems between Japan and North Korea, including the abduction issue, should be resolved one by one in line with the Pyongyang Declaration.

(c) It is important for both Japan and North Korea to implement the Pyongyang Declaration.

(2) Statements by the head of the Japanese delegation, Ambassador Yabunaka:

(a) Japan also intends to implement the Pyongyang Declaration.

(b) Regarding the resolution of the abduction issue, and in particular the return to Japan of the families of abduction victims, Japan calls on North Korea to demonstrate a constructive response to the issue so that the humanitarian problem such as this could be solved quickly.

(c) Japan wants to continue discussions so as to solve the problems between Japan and North Korea. (In response, the North Korean delegation said that it wanted to do the same.)

III. Evaluation

1. It was very significant that the six parties that have an interest in the nuclear problem and problems that exert a serious impact on the peace and stability of the region were able to gather together and hold serious discussions.

2. Japan also clearly relayed to the North Korean side the importance of solving not only the nuclear problem but also the abduction issue and the missile problem.

3. The process of the six-party talks is extremely important, and the continuation of this process is essential for the peaceful and diplomatic solution of North Korea's nuclear development problem. It is necessary to hold the next meeting as soon as possible and to make further progress toward a solution.

4. It is necessary to create an opportunity for discussions between Japan and North Korea as quickly as possible.