The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed on Saturday to allow five families of abductees to go to Japan while Japan promised to immediately resume humanitarian aid to the DPRK.

The two sides also pledged to make positive efforts to implement the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration signed in 2002.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who arrived in Pyongyang early Saturday for a one-day visit, held talks with DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il, at the Taedonggang Guest House.

It was the second summit between Koizumi and Kim since the two leaders met in Pyongyang in September 2002 to sign the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.

Koizumi told reporters in a press conference after the talks that he will take five families of abductees to Japan at the conclusion of his visit.

The two sides also agreed to conduct further investigation on 10 missing Japanese, Koizumi said.

During the 90 minute meeting, the two sides reaffirmed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration, discussed issues related to its implementation and exchanged views on improving bilateral relations, said the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The Japanese government, in a bid to rebuild trust between the two countries, agreed to resume humanitarian aid and promised to extend 250,000 tons of food aid and 10 million US dollars worth of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the DPRK.

The two countries agreed to push negotiations for the normalization of DPRK-Japan relations, but did not give an exact agenda for the negotiation.

On the nuclear issue, Koizumi asked the DPRK to dismantle its nuclear program. Kim, for his part, said DPRK wants a Korean Peninsula free from nuclear weapons and the DPRK is willing to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through the six-party talks.

Koizumi left Pyongyang at 18:50 local time (0950 GMT) while the five family members of the abductees also departed for Japan on a separate plane arranged by the Japanese government.

"The talks between the top leaders of the DPRK and Japan mark an important and historic event in restoring confidence, improving relations between the two countries and promoting peace and stability in Asia and the rest of the world," said the KCNA in a commentary.

Japan and the DPRK have not established diplomatic ties so far.

Source: Xinhua