DRAFT
her to discuss economic assistance to DPRK in the next round of the Six-Party Talks, by
saying that “DPRK’s participation in the next round of the talks would not be achieved if
economic assistance was not to be discussed.”
This indicated Japan’s greater willingness to
give economic concessions to DPRK for its denuclearization.
10. The 1
st
Session of the Fifth Round of the Six-Party Talks (November 9-11, 2005)
On November 9, the fist session of the fifth round of the Six-Party talks began. It
ended very shortly on November 11, with little progress. In this round, Japan proposed
creation of two working groups that discusses the issue of abandoning and verifying nuclear
programs and the issue of economic and energy assistance respectively.
But Japan did not
make any new substantive proposals of significance. Japan restated the importance of
resolving the abduction issue, and then it stressed that improving the Japan-DPRK relations
by resolving outstanding issues such as the abduction issue would have a positive impact on
the progress of the Six-Party Talks and that progress on nuclear and missile issues at the Six-
Party Talks would improve the prospects for the diplomatic normalization with DPRK.
On its part, DPRK strongly criticized recent US stances especially its action taken in
September 2005 against alleged money laundering by DPRK via a bank in Macao.
argued that such an action violated the joint statement of the six party talks, that it made it
impossible for DPRK to follow through its promises made in the statement, and that the
United States should stop its hostile policy toward DPRK.
During this round of the talks, the six parties attempted to compile concrete plans,
55
Sekai henshubu, “Kitachosen no 5 dankai teian,” Sekai (January 2006), p. 198.
56
Ibid., p. 200.
57
Japan made these points to DPRK during its talks with DPRK at a dinner party on November 8 and a
bilateral talk on November 10. Gaimusho, Dai5kai rokushakaigo dai1ji kaigo (gaiyo to tenbo), November
2005, http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/n_korea/6kaigo/6kaigo5_gt.html
58
Gaimusho, Dai5kai rokushakaigo dai1ji kaigo (gaiyo to tenbo), November 2005,
59
Ibid.
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