TOKYO, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The North Korean government said Thursday it hopes for positive relations with Japan and the country's Prime Minister-designate Yukio Hatoyama.

Kim Yong Nam, Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly president, said his country wants fruitful talks to take place between North Korea and Hatoyama's incoming administration, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Kim said in an interview with the Kyodo news service among the issues key to such positive relations would be how Hatoyama approaches North Korea via his new post.

Another key aspect of relations between the two countries focuses on the topic of compensation for Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula between 1910 and 1945, Kim said.

Xinhua said the North Korean official maintained positive relations between his country and the Democratic Party of Japan leader's administration "will solely depend on the attitude of the Japanese government."