The following statement was issued on 24 May by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the resumption of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)-Japan dialogue at the highest level as a timely and encouraging step. He hopes that the discussions between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission Kim Jong Il, which has helped to resolve some difficult issues, will lead to a normalization of bilateral relations. The Secretary-General is pleased to note the commitment of the two leaders to continue to resolve the nuclear issue within the Beijing process. This is also the message that his Personal Envoy Mr. Maurice F. Strong received during his visit to the DPRK last week. The Secretary-General is grateful for Japan’s decision to resume providing humanitarian aid to the DPRK, which has been the subject of special efforts by the United Nations.