Resource Material: Joint Declaration of
Three Parties - WPK, Japan's LDP and SP (now called SDP) -
For Normalization of Korea-Japan Relationship (Sep. 28, 1990)
Late President Kim Il Sung made history on Sep. 27, 1990 when he hosted the first-ever government-level talks with Japanese ruling and opposition parties involving Worker's Party of Korea.
The unprecedented top-level talks involving three parties - WPK (Workers' Party of Korea), Japanese ruling LDP (Liberal Democratic Party headed by late Shin Kanemaru) and then oppostion SP (Socialist Party, now renamed Social Democratic Party which enjoys coalition cabinet under the wing of LDP, led by Tanabe Makoto) - was successfully held at a mountain resort in Myohyang - the place late President Kim Il Sung most loved to visit and took his final breath on July 8, 1994.
At the talks, Japanese delegation handed greeting letters from Kaifu Toshiki, then prime minister, and Doi Takako, chairwoman of then opposition Socialist Party to late President Kim Il Sung, of course, first time in history.
Below: Full text of Joint Declaration issued by WPK, LDP & SP
Joint Declaration Issued by WPK, LDP & JSP
Delegations of the LDP and the JSP visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from Sep. 24 to 28, 1990.
President Kim Il Sung, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, received the delegations.
On the occasion, Kanemaru Shin and Tanabe Makoto who were heading the delegations conveyed personal letters of President of the LDP Kaifu Toshiki and Chairwoman of the Central Executive Committee of the JSP Doi Takako to President Kim Il Sung. General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. During the visit, a series of joint talks were held between the WPK delegation led by Secretary of the Party Central Committee Kim Yong Sun, the LDP delegation led by member of the House of Representatives Kanemaru Shin and the JSP delegation led by Vice Chairman of the Central Executive Committee Tanabe Makoto.
Considering that to normalize and develop Korea-Japan relations on the basis of the idea of independence, peace and friendship confirms to the interests of the peoples of the two countries and would contribute to peace and prosperity of a new Asia and the world, the delegations of the three parties declare as follows:
| l . The three
parties consider that Japan should fully and officially
apology and compensate to the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea for the enormous misfortunes and
miseries imposed upon the Korean people for 36 years and
the losses inflicted upon the Korean people in the
ensuing 45 years after the war. In his personal letter o President Kim Il Sung, President Kaifu Toshiki of the LDP admitted that there was an unfortunate past imposed by Japan upon Korea and expressed the hope to improve the DPRK-Japan relations, saying: "Former Prime Minister Takeshita expressed deep remorse and regret over such unfortunate past at the Diet in March last year. I, as a prime minister, share his view." Head of the delegation of the LDP Kanemaru Shin, member of the House of Representatives, too, expressed the same apology for the Japan's past colonial rule over the Korean people. The three parties consider that in connection with the establishment of the diplomatic relations, full compensation should be made by the Japanese government for the past 36-year-long colonial rule and the losses inflicted upon the DPRK people in the ensuing 45 years. |
| 2. The three parties consider that the abnormal state between the DPRK and Japan must be eliminated and diplomatic relations be established as soon as possible. |
| 3 . The three parties consider that, for the improvement of the relations between DPRK and Japan, it is necessary to develop exchanges between them in various domains including politics, economy and culture and, for the present, to use satellite communications and open direct air services between the two countries. |
| 4. The three parties consider that the Koreans in Japan must not be discriminated against, their human rights and all national rights and legal status be respected and the Japanese government should guarantee them by law The three parties regard it necessary for the Japanese authorities to remove the entries made in the Japanese passport as regards the DPRK. |
| 5. The three parties consider that Korea is one and that the peaceful reunification through north-south dialogue accords with the national interests of the Korean people . |
| 6. The three parties consider that it is necessary for them to make joint efforts for the building of a peaceful and free Asia and eliminate nuclear threats from all regions on the globe. |
| 7. The three parties agreed to strongly recommend the start of inter-governmental negotiations for the realization of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the solution of all the outstanding problems within November 1990. |
| 8. The three parties agreed to strengthen party relations and further develop mutual cooperation between the WPK, and the LDP and between the WPK and the JSP in conformity with the desire of the two peoples and in the interests of peace in Asia and the world. |
Agreed on Sep. 28, 1990 in Pyongyang
By
Kim Yong Sun |
Kanemaru Shin |
Tanabe Makoto |
Copyright © 1997 The People's Korea. All rights reserved.