In spite of these new threats of the United States to North Korea, North Korea at this time was still trying to open negotiations with the United States and Japan. On September 3rd they expressed the hope that the Agreed Framework would be continued. Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichirō, visiting P’yǒngyang in mid-September, came to an agreement on establishment of foreign relations that involved the admission of DPRK kidnapping of 11 Japanese nationals, and Japanese promises of $8-10 billion in aid. Kim Jong Il took this occasion to ask Prime Minister Koizumi to convey to the United States the DPRK’s voluntary indefinite moratorium on missile testing and their willingness to negotiate with the United States on this issue. North Korea successfully and peacefully participated later in the month in the Asian Games held in South Korea.