| [Kyodo: Korea] North Korea"s No. 2 leader urged the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, or Chongryon, in a New Year"s letter Friday to ""positively contribute to"" improving bilateral relations with Japan based on the spirit of the Pyongyang Declaration, the official Korean Central News Agency said. It was the first time since a New Year"s letter to Chongryon in 2003 that Kim Yong Nam has referred to the declaration, raising speculations that Pyongyang may have become more interested in Japan"s North Korea policy under the government of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who took office in September. |