In a statement on Thursday, the North Korean ambassador Song Il Ho said Japan has rendered the historical 2002 Pyongyang Accord “null and void.”
According to the declaration, Japan and North Korea had decided to make efforts to strengthen the ties between the two nations. The words have been uttered by the ambassador who is also responsible for making negotiations between the countries and normalizing diplomatic talks.
Song also says that Japan had promptly pushed their mutual relationship to the lowest ebb.
The statement by the ambassador was made hunting the sanctions imposed by Japan on North Korea’s nuclear and air missile programs.
On the other hand, a central Korean news agency said that North Korea in a statement said they had already resolved tensions regarding N. Korean agents abducting Japanese residents in the 1970s and 1980s.
The accord will celebrate its 20th anniversary this Saturday.
Song Il Ho also believes that mutual relation with Japan only depends on the Japanese side of diplomatic attitude. He also called out Tokyo officials to break their silence on their stance.
It is the first time that the country’s officials officials have called the accord a void declaration. Even though the North Korean media had stated similar phrases and opinions about the accord, the government had always claimed the declaration was valid.
In response, Hayashi, the Japanese foreign minister dodged any actual replies to Song’s statement but they had made a point that Japan’s policy regarding the accord to maintain diplomatic relations “remains unwavering” from its original purpose.
North Korea 2002 Pyongyang Declaration
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made a historical visit to North Korea on 17 September 2002, where along with the former leader of N. Korea, Kim Jong Il, he signed the Pyongyang Declaration. Kim had then admitted that North Korean agents had kidnapped Japanese residents, and five of them had been released in the following month.
According to the 2002 Accord, Japan was also tasked with providing economic help to still-growing country but the mutual relations had then soured over the issue of the rest of the unreleased citizens. A rift had been formed even before the ties had been normalized.
This Friday, Japanese officials like the chief secretary Matsuno expressed regret over not getting back their residents from the clutches of the dictator regime and also stated that the government is trying its best to get back the abductees quickly.
Matsuno was also firm on Japan’s stance on nuclear weapons and programs, he says that these programs are unsettling and a big threat to the peace and harmony among countries.
He also stated that Japan is working closely with the United Nations and the neighbouring country South Korea to de-escalate nuclear tension and work upon denuclearization.
North Korean ambassador Song Il Ho heavily criticized Japan for utilizing the accords’ purpose for their “dirty politics” and said that resolving issues about Japanese abductees and intentionally starting talks about denuclearization goes against the very essence of the mutual relations that the accord intended to establish.
The country’s envoy claims that Japan had seriously dramatized North Korea’s military aggression and had made up a story of threat, which is also shaking up the peaceful and stable foundations in the region.
According to Song, Tokyo can never avoid or neglect its duties stated under the declaration for its deceitful acts.
Japan claims that almost 17 Japanese citizens had been abducted from their homeland by agents sent by the NK government and they are also sure that the North Korean government is also involved in the disappearance of many more.
Whereas the North is urging Japan to atone for committing heinous acts on their homeland by invading Korean land.
The country has a lot of problems related to food, water or any other basic necessities. It is going to be dependent on other neighboring nations like Japan and South Korea for help in the future as food shortage increases along with climate change related adversaries. The country officials are stating harsh words to these nations will deter any relation or agreement in the future as diplomatic relations will deteriorate.
