Japan-DPRK deal should be conducive to peace: FM

Negotiations between Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should be conducive to regional peace and stability, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

Referring to Japan's decision, announced earlier in the day, to lift some of its sanctions against the DPRK, Hong Lei told a daily press briefing, "We have noticed the progress made by their negotiations."

The easing of sanctions is in return for the DPRK's decision to launch a new investigation into the abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, a major concern of Japan during the six-party talks.

"We hope the improvement of DPRK-Japan relations through negotiation can be conducive to regional peace and stability," Hong said.