Japanese Back N. Korea Bid for Compensation : Asia: Pyongyang wants Tokyo to pay for ‘losses’ during the Korean division since World War II.

A high-level Japanese mission Friday accepted a North Korean claim that Japan owes Pyongyang compensation for “losses” during the 45 years that Korea has been divided since the end of World War II as well as for the years from 1910 to 1945 when Japan ruled Korea as a colony.

The surprise concession by former Deputy Prime Minister Shin Kanemaru and Makoto Tanabe, vice-chairman of the opposition Japan Socialist Party, was included in a joint declaration the two signed in Pyongyang with Kim Yong Sun, secretary for international affairs of the North Korean Workers’ Party.

It immediately stirred protests from South Korea, with which Japan established diplomatic relations in 1965. At that time, Tokyo agreed to pay $500 million in compensation for its colonial rule, but it assumed no responsibility for “losses” after 1945, when Korea was divided.

Negotiations in Pyongyang over wording of the declaration delayed for more than six hours the departure of a charter aircraft that brought Kanemaru, Tanabe and their 90-member mission back to Tokyo after an unprecedented five-day visit. Nine Japanese government officials were among the group.

“Japan must officially apologize and compensate the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for the misfortune and damage inflicted upon the Korean people during 36 years (of colonial rule between 1910 and 1945) and the losses the Korean people suffered in the 45 years of the postwar era,” the declaration said.

The two sides agreed that diplomatic relations should be established “as soon as possible.” Compensation, they added, would be paid by Japan at the time official ties are established--a move that, if it occurs, would end 45 years of isolation between Tokyo and Pyongyang.

It would also represent the most significant opening to the outside world that isolationist North Korea has ever taken.

Missing was any reference to the release of two Japanese fishermen seized in 1983 as “spies” after a North Korean deserter stowed away on their ship and won freedom in Japan. Kanemaru said at a news conference that he is convinced the two will be freed in October.

Issuance of the declaration was delayed by arguments over whether to include a North Korean plea for “elimination of the threat of nuclear weapons from all regions,” Kanemaru said.

Despite the presence of American nuclear weapons in South Korea, where the United States maintains about 43,000 troops, the Japanese side finally yielded and accepted the North Korean wording.

All of the accords in the joint declaration were described as “recommendations” to both governments, but, at least for North Korea, they amounted to a government decision. The Communist state has but one political party, and Kim Il Sung, 78, the world’s longest-ruling dictator, heads both the government and the party.

Kanemaru’s ability to deliver his half of the bargain is not quite so certain. He is, however, a ruling party kingpin and the chief supporter of Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu.

A speedy conclusion is considered unlikely. Disputes over the amount of reparations that Japan finally agreed to pay South Korea prolonged negotiations with Seoul for more than 10 years. And, so far, there have been no indications of how much North Korea seeks in compensation.

Other recommendations, which are expected to be acted on without waiting for diplomatic ties to be established, include:

Permission for North Korea to use Japanese satellite communications to expand its links with the rest of the world.

Opening of a regular, direct air route between Tokyo and Pyongyang.

Elimination of a ban on travel to North Korea that is stamped in passports issued to most Japanese citizens.

Only a general reference was made to enlarged trade and economic exchange, which analysts believe was one of the driving forces behind North Korea’s willingness to drop its longstanding opposition to dual recognition of North and South Korea by any major power.

Kanemaru explained that he dropped his initial proposal to set up “liaison offices”-- de facto interim embassies--in Tokyo and Pyongyang when President Kim, whom he met three times, proposed to move immediately to negotiate full diplomatic relations.