South Korean leader visits Japan

There have been emotional North-South Korean reunions

By Damien Grammaticas in Tokyo

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has begun a three-day visit to Japan with Korean reconciliation moves high on the agenda.

President Kim will also be pressing Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to grant more rights to Koreans living in Japan. Many first arrived as forced labourers during World War II and enjoy fewer rights than native Japanese.

Much has changed on the Korean peninsula since President Kim last visited Tokyo.

Japan is Korea's giant neighbour and has a keen interest in the thaw between North and South Korea. Over the next three days, Mr Mori will be learning what President Kim believes are the prospects for Korea following the historic summit held in June.

Military threat

Two years ago, North Korea test-fired a missile over Japan. Any reduction in the North Korean threat is welcomed by Tokyo.

Shortly before President Kim's arrival, Mr Mori told parliament that Japan would do its utmost to help the reconciliation between the Koreas.

A united Korean flag at the Olympics

He also said Japan would make tenacious efforts to normalise its own relations with Pyongyang.

President Kim is pressing Mr Mori to grant voting rights to more than 500,000 Koreans who are permanently resident in Japan.

Many are the descendants of Koreans forced to work for Japan's imperial army in World War II. They live in Japan, but are denied the vote, even in local elections, and must carry cards identifying them as aliens.