Lee, Aso meet on DPRK, economy

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-29 09:27

TOKYO: The leaders of the Republic of Korea and Japan pledged Sunday to work together to bring the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) back to the table for negotiations aimed at persuading Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

Visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (L) is welcomed by Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso upon his arrival in Tokyo, Japan, on June 28, 2009. Lee Myung-Bak arrived in Tokyo on Sunday for a one-day visit to Japan. [Xinhua]

ROK President Lee Myung-bak spent the day in Tokyo for meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso - a month after Pyongyang's underground nuclear test ratcheted up tensions in the region.

The leaders, who spoke to reporters at Aso's residence, said they also discussed how to foster stronger economic cooperation. Aso said initial negotiations aimed at eventually forming a free trade agreement would be held on July 1.

"We need to demonstrate that North Korea (DPRK) has nothing to gain by conducting nuclear tests and missile launches," said Lee.

Aso and Lee said they stand united in supporting a return to the Six-Party Talks which aimed to give the DPRK economic aid and other concessions in exchange for abandoning its nuclear program.

The visit is part of efforts by the Asian neighbors to improve their relationship, which has been troubled since Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea. A set of tiny islands in the Sea of Japan that both claim has long been a source of friction, and the ROK has protested when Tokyo approves textbooks Seoul feels justify wartime transgressions.

But they have strong economic ties and share close alliances with the US, which maintains a large military presence in both countries.

DPRK economy grows

The DPRK's economy grew in 2008 after good weather boosted agricultural production, the ROK's central bank said Sunday.

The North's gross domestic product for last year was estimated at $24.7 billion, a 3.7 percent increase from 2007, Seoul's Bank of Korea said in a news release. The DPRK's economy shrank 2.3 percent in 2007 and 1.1 percent in 2006.

The central bank said the DPRK's economic growth was mainly because of "temporary factors" such as favorable weather conditions that resulted in an increase in agricultural production, and the arrival of oil shipments under an international disarmament deal on its nuclear program.

The size of the DPRK's economy, however, was still about 2.6 percent of the ROK's, the bank said.

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