The last time talks aimed at normalising relations between Japan and North Korea took place, last March in Hanoi, they broke up in rancour after just 45 minutes. By those standards, the past two days of discussions, which ended on schedule on Thursday in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, were relatively successful.

Although they finished with both sides far apart on the issue of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s, the two sides did agree to meet more often. Both countries were also keen to point out that discussions had been held in a better atmosphere.