Public broadcaster ARD TV in Germany, stated that talks between North Korean National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi showed the world that North Korea is willing to improve relations with other countries in the West, including the US. The daily Suddeutsche Zeitung reported in its Wednesday edition that the summit enabled the two countries to cross an abyss. Another daily, the Frankfurter Rundschau, said in its Wednesday edition that the normalization of relations between the two countries will enable North Korea to become engaged in international exchanges and receive much-needed financial assistance.