Under Premier Eisaku Satō, Japanese-North Korean relations underwent a deterioration, but in 1971-1972, the process of Sino-Japanese rapprochement induced Japanese companies to broaden their economic cooperation with the DPRK.
Di era Perdana Menteri Eisaku Satō, hubungan Jepang-Korea Utara memburuk, namun pada 1971-1972, proses pendekatan kembali Tiongkok-Jepang menyebabkan perusahaan-perusahaan Jepang memperluas kerjasama ekonomi dengan Korea Utara.