I have the feeling that North Korea will not flatly reject the proposal, since it would not hurt the North to establish a framework for solving problems with Japan.

The bilateral talks are interlinked with the multilateral process.

For business, English and Chinese are obviously the most important languages now. This is a phenomenon that reflects the change of the times.

Prime Minister Mori's comment has made it all the more difficult for the two governments to resolve the dispute.

Japan-North Korea talks would not move forward as long as the six-party talks are stalled.

The possibility of North Korea making a (positive) decision increases somewhat if economic assistance is dangled in front of their eyes.