Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met with top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-il on Saturday to discuss on normalizing relations and other bilateral issues.

Kim and Koizumi began their talks at 11:02 local time (0202 GMT) in the Daedonggang Guest House in the suburb of Pyongyang.

It is the second summit between Koizumi and Kim since the two leaders met in Pyongyang in September 2002, when Koizumi launched a historic visit to the DPRK and signed the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.

Koizumi, who arrived in Pyongyang for a one-day visit on Saturday morning, is expected to discuss with Kim on the implementation of the Pyongyang Declaration, the history, abduction and nuclear issues.

The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier that Koizumi' meeting with Kim was intended to "restore the relations of confidence between the two countries."

Japan and the DPRK has not established diplomatic ties so far.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2004)