(22 Jun 2004) 1. Press conference with Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary Takashima Hatsuhisa 2. Cutaway press 3. SOUNDBITE (English): "We would like to see North Korea's attitude change from a very hard and stiff previous one, especially during the last round of the working group meeting, in which they didn't discuss anything in detail although they first said that they would do so." SUPER CAPTION Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary Takashima Hatsuhisa 4. Cutaway press 5. SOUNDBITE (English): "Chairman Kim Jong Il said that he realised that the freeze would involve international verification, and if that is the position of the North Korean leader, this position should be reflected to the attitude of the North Korean delegation through the course of discussions and we are hopeful that this would be the case." SUPER CAPTION Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary Takashima Hatsuhisa 6. Cutaway press 7. Press conference with Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary Takashima Hatsuhisa STORYLINE: Japan would like to see North Korea change its harsh attitude concerning its nuclear programme during the third round of Six Party Talks being held this week, a Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday. At an Asian regional meeting in China's northeastern city of Qingdao, Japan Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Takashima Hatsuhisa said Japan would still support the idea of providing assistance in return for a "freeze" of North Korea's nuclear programmes. But Takashima clarified that diplomatic relations and other aid from Japan would not be possible until the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese citizens is settled. Takashima emphasised that Japan considers this a separate issue to the nuclear crisis, and he said that Japan would not pursue the fate of the abducted Japanese during this week's talks in Beijing. Takashima stated that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il had said that he understood that any "freeze" of his nuclear programmes would require international verification. But Takashima inferred that North Korean negotiators had so far not reflected Kim's understanding of the situation. North Korea is to sit down in Beijing on Wednesday with five countries - China, the US, South Korea, Japan, and Russia - for a third round of talks on its nuclear weapons programme. The talks are scheduled to run until 26 June. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/3f3a7693c7cb9a0363d3f1668036920d