South, North Korea to hold third round of military talks

The two sides had agreed to a third round of talks, but the negotiations were on hold due to the North Korea’s criticism of annual joint military exercises between South

Korea and the US and other inter-Korean disputes.

North Korea denounces the drills as a US rehearsal to attack the communist country, a charge Washington denies.

Japan hints at sanctions

Tokyo: Japan could consider sanctions against North Korea if it refuses to resolve the cases of Japanese citizens kidnapped by Pyongyang, a top government spokesman said on Friday

Chief cabinet secretary Shinzo Abe’s comments came ahead of talks in Beijing on Saturday between Japan and North

Korea. The negotiations will concentrate on the abduction cases and the North’s missile and nuclear weapons

programmes.

Abe said, “If there is no sincere response from North Korea, the government needs to consider various measures since the Japanese public will not be satisfied.” —AP