Dong-a Ilbo, Asahi Shimbun leaders meet

Kim Byung-Kwan, president of Dong-a Ilbo, met with Hakoshima Shinichi, president of Asahi Shimbun of Japan, and other executives at Dong-A Media Center in Seoul on September 14, and they exchanged views about issues such as South-North Korean relations and normalization of relations between Japan and North Korea.

Chairman Kim explained that Dong-a Ilbo, as mentioned at the 80th anniversary editorial on April 1, is making efforts to contribute to South-North reconciliation and peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas. He also asked about Asahi's position regarding contact between Japan and North Korea, which recently has seen resumed negotiations for establishment of formal ties.

Hakoshima said that the establishment of ties between Japan and North Korea is something that will be realized someday, noting that it should be done as soon as possible. He also mentioned that there has to be progress in Japanese-North Korean relations in order to promote reconciliation and exchanges between South and North Korea.

Kim said it is true that there is some doubt among South Koreans that the government is heading too fast in the South-North relations. And Hakoshima also noted that there exists many pending issues in the process of negotiation between Japan and North Korea, including the question of kidnapped Japanese people and compensation for Japan's colonial rule.

Kim and Hakoshima agreed to promote exchanges of journalists, as well as to form a joint news team during the 2002 World Cup Soccer Tournament, between the two companies.

Park Jei-Gyoon phark@donga.com