In September 2002, there were a historic summit between Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, and Junichiro Koizumi Prime Minister of Japan, the summit was the first of its kind and brought a new perspective in the improvement of the abnormal DPRK-Japan relations.

 The two leaders met in second summit two years later.

 The following are reports on the summits held between Kim Jong Il, and Junichiro Koizumi:

 Report on Meeting and Talks between Kim Jong Il and Koizumi at Pyongyang 2002 summit

 Pyongyang, September 17 2002, Talks between Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi were held here today. Present from the DPRK side were Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of foreign affairs, and from the Japanese side Shinzo Abe, deputy chief cabinet secretary, Toshiyuki Takano deputy foreign minister, Hitoshi Tanaka, director general for Asian and Oceanic affairs of the Foreign Ministry, and Koro Ressho, executive secretary of the Prime Minister's office.
At the talks they had exhaustive discussion on a series of issues of redressing the unpleasant past between the DPRK and Japan and settling pending issues between them.

Talks concluded with the publication of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.

 Kim Jong Il and Koizumi sign the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration

 The DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration

 Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese prime minister, met and had talks in Pyongyang on September 17, 2002.

 The two top leaders shared the view that liquidating the unpleasant past between the DPRK and Japan, settling the pending issues and establishing fruitful political, economic and cultural relations between them are in the basic interests of both sides and greatly conducive to regional peace and stability.

 (I). Both sides decided to exert all efforts to establish the diplomatic ties at an early date on the basis of the spirit and main principle laid down in the declaration and resume the negotiations on opening them within October, 2002.   

 Both sides expressed strong resolution to sincerely address all issues existing between the two countries in the course of normalizing the ties on the basis of relationship based on mutual trust.

 (II). The Japanese side honestly admitted the historical facts that it had inflicted huge damage and sufferings upon the Korean people during its past colonial rule over Korea and keenly reflected on and sincerely apologized for them.  

 Both sides decided to earnestly discuss the specific scope and content of economic cooperation at the talks for normalizing the diplomatic ties on the basis of basic understanding that it is in the spirit of the declaration for the Japanese side to render economic cooperation to the DPRK side including grants in aid, low-interest long-term loans and humanitarian aid through international organizations and provide loans and credit through the International Cooperation Bank of Japan, etc., from the viewpoint of aiding non-governmental economic activities in the period both sides think appropriate after the normalization of diplomatic ties.

 Both sides agreed to consult the normalization of diplomatic relations in detail at the talks for normalizing diplomatic relations on the basic principle of abandoning each other's claims on national and individual assets that existed before August 15, 1945. 

 Both sides agreed to sincerely discuss the status of Koreans in Japan and cultural treasures at the talks on normalizing diplomatic relations.

 (III). Both sides confirmed their will to observe international law and refrain from threatening mutual security. As regards the pending issue concerning the life and security of Japanese nationals the DPRK side declared that it would take a proper measure to prevent the recurrence of such regrettable things, a product of the abnormal relations between the DPRK and Japan. 

 (IV). Both sides affirmed their will to cooperate with each other to preserve and consolidate peace and stability in northeast Asia. Both sides shared the understanding that it is important to underscore the importance of building a structure of cooperative relations based on confidence among the countries concerned in the region and reinforce the framework to promote the confidence-building in the region in step with the normalization of their relations.

 Both sides affirmed the pledge to observe all the international agreements for a comprehensive solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. They also underscored the need to facilitate the settlement of problems by promoting the dialogue among the countries concerned as regards all security matters including nuclear and missile issues. 

 The DPRK side expressed its will to extend its moratorium on missile tests beyond 2003 in the spirit of the declaration.  Both sides agreed to discuss issues related to ensuring security.

September 17, 2002 Pyongyang

 Report on Meeting and Talks between Kim Jong Il and Koizumi at Pyongyang 2004 summit

 Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, Saturday May 22, 2004 met and had talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on a visit to the DPRK to implement the "DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration" and restore the relations of confidence between the two countries. Present there were Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, from the DPRK side and Masaaki Yamazaki, deputy chief Cabinet secretary, Koro Bessho, chief secretary to the prime minister, Hitoshi Tanaka, deputy minister for Foreign Affairs, Mitoji Yabunaka, chief of the Asia and Oceania Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other suite members from the Japanese side.
    At the meeting and talks the two sides reaffirmed the "DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration" adopted in September 2002; discussed issues related to its implementation and exchanged views on the overall international issues and on a series of matters arising in improving the bilateral relations.
    Kim Jong Il clarified the principled issues arising in improving the DPRK-Japan ties.
    It is not beneficial in every respect that the two countries have been in the abnormal relationship for over half a century since the end of the war, though they were close to each other and had deep relations historically, he said, stressing that for the two countries to be on good terms, coexist and seek common prosperity is in line with their interests and in favor of peace and stability in Asia and the rest of the world.
    There would be no problems insoluble if the two countries determine and buckle down to settling them from a broad perspective to meet the desire and interests of the two peoples as it is the historic mission facing us, politicians, to improve the abnormal DPRK-Japan relations, he noted.
    Saying that the DPRK government would as ever make positive efforts to implement the declaration, Kim Jong Il stressed that progress in improving the bilateral relations would largely depend on what an attitude and stand the ally of Japan will take.
    Expressing regret at the undesirable things that have so far taken place in the relations with the DPRK, Koizumi manifested the will to set store by the "Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration," convert the hostile relations into those of cooperation and normalize the bilateral relations in the course of honestly implementing it.
    He assured the DPRK side that Japan would halt the invocation of the "law on sanctions" against the DPRK, not discriminate against the Koreans in Japan but treat them in a friendly manner and immediately resume the humanitarian aid to the DPRK and supply 250,000 tons of rice and medicament worth ten million U.S. dollars to the DPRK with a view to restoring the ties of confidence between the two countries.
    The meeting and talks proceeded in a sincere and candid atmosphere.