Japan-N. Korea talks break down

Negotiations between Japan and North Korea for diplomatic normalization held in Beijing last month virtually broke down with little prospect of resuming by the end of the year, informed Japanese sources said Sunday.

The revelation contradicts an earlier statement by Japanese government officials that the Beijing talks Oct. 30 and 31 had made little headway but had did not come to an end.

The sources said North Korea rejected Japan's offer to settle the bilateral points at issue in the same manner as were the normalization negotiations between Seoul and Tokyo in 1965 by means of economic aid. Pyongyang criticized Japan for not making an apology for its drafting of Korean workers and sex slaves during the Pacific War, and also turned down a Japanese demand to resolve the question of Japanese civilians allegedly abducted by North Korean agents.