Kim Dae-jung sees turning point in NKorea talks

TOKYO, Jan 14 (Reuters) This year could see a turning point in talks on North Korea's nuclear programme, with both the United States and Pyongyang under pressure to resolve the issue, former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung said.

In an interview with the Tokyo Shimbun daily published today, Kim said he did not feel that the latest round of six-party nuclear talks, which were held in December and ended without progress, had been a failure.

The last session ended with Washington and Pyongyang blaming each other for betraying expectations after attempts to flesh out a September 2005 agreement promising North Korea aid and security guarantees got nowhere.

US officials have said the talks could resume later this month.

''This year is likely to bring a turning point for the talks, since both the United States and North Korea are now under pressure to reach a resolution,'' Kim was quoted as saying in the interview, conducted in Seoul on January 11.

Last year's U.S. mid-term elections which gave the Democratic party control of both houses of Congress, along with the U.S. commitments in Iraq, meant the administration of George W. Bush now had no choice but to resolve the North Korean issue through dialogue.

''If the US attitude changes, North Korea's attitude will change as well,'' he said, adding that the key issue for success in the talks was the US financial sanctions on North Korea.

Kim gave no more details, but he has in the past blamed US policy in part for the nuclear crisis, which he said could only end if Washington agreed to direct talks with North Korean leaders.

The Bush administration has rejected Pyongyang's demands for such talks unless they are within the six-party framework.

Kim also voiced concern about bilateral relations between Japan and South Korea, where bitter memories of Japan's 1910-1945 colonisation still linger.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to make Japan a ''beautiful country'' that is proud of its traditions and takes more leadership in global security affairs, but Kim said it had to deal with history first.

''Being proud of historical achievements is important, but the mistakes of the past need to be recognised and apologies made to those who suffered,'' he was quoted as adding.

''Until those people feel that Japan has changed and there is no need to worry, it may be difficult to say it is a beautiful country.'' REUTERS SP HT1047