The new Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda announced on the afternoon of May 14 at the Prime Minister's residence that the Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi would visit the DPRK again on May 22. This is his second visit to DPRK following the visit in Sept 2002. Like the previous "blitz visit", this time it is still a one-day visit.

It is believed that one of Koizumi's missions is to help the family members of the eight kidnapped Japanese to return home. He will request DPRK to set a special commission to probe the whereabouts of the 10 abducted Japanese. Secondly, he will discuss the normalization of the diplomatic relations between Japan and DPRK. Hiroyuki Hosoda stressed that Koizumi's major mission is to affirm the implementation of the spirits as laid out in Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration and regain mutual trust.

The Japan- DPRK Pyongyang Declaration is an achievement of Koizumi's first visit to DPRK. According to the declaration, Japan agrees to normalize the diplomatic relations with DPRK on the basis of self-reflection for its colonization in Korea. At the same time, DPRK acknowledges having kidnapped Japanese. The solid ice between two countries began to thaw from then on. In accordance with their original plan, the five kidnapped would pay visit to Japan for half a month in October 2002 and then returned to DPRK, but the Japanese government kept the five Japanese stay in Japan once they returned. Therefore the thawed ice began to freeze. The normalization of Japanese-Korean relations came to a standstill. .

Since the end of last year, senior officials of Japan and DPRK began to make frequent contacts. In January 2004, Korea suggested that the kidnapped welcome their family members at the Pyongyang airport, but Japan turned it down. The DPRK 's stance loosened after the second round of the six party talks in Beijing. During the senior officials talk on May 4 in Beijing, the Japanese side says Japan will take an active approach towards the problems between two countries, even including the visit of Koizumi to DPRK if the family members of the kidnapped are released by the DPRK.

On the other hand, visiting DPRK serves to satisfy the need to "gain scores" for Koizumi himself and the party. His first visit to DPRK once succeeded in drawing attractions of Japanese citizens. The unfavorable reform and scandals were once covered up by the outcome of his visit to DPRK. Koizumi stabilized the basis for ruling by the visit. However, he did not go further after a successful first step, because he intends to use the DPRK issue as pretext to send troops overseas and modify the "peace constitution". He needs to hold back the card for use at a crucial moment.

At present, the election in the House of Councilors will begin in July, but the ruling party has nothing outstanding on hand. Instead, the pension scandals were exposed constantly. Under such a situation, Koizumi eagerly needs some "Outstanding" achievements. The "kidnapping problem" is the focus of the public opinion, so Koizumi plays the card without hesitation.

Despite different forecasts for the Koizumi's visit, some say it is hopeful to get a fine result; others reckon it a pure "political gambling". But the visit itself will divert the public attention and ease the criticism on its foreign policy of "tailing completely after the US". Should Koizumi takes the families of eight kidnapped back to Japan successfully, he will gain an advantageous position in the election campaign for House of councilors and therefore consolidate his position.

The article was carried on the People's Daily, May 16 and translated by People's Daily Online