Japan Should Stop Row on Abduction Issue: DPRK Media

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 14, 2003

Japan Should Stop Row on Abduction Issue: DPRK Media

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The state-ran media of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said on Monday that the issue of abducted Japanese has long been settled and the Japanese government should stop making a row about it.

A commentary by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that recently, some Japanese officials termed the abduction as an act of terrorism, which was meant to "tarnish the image of the peace-loving DPRK and build up public opinion in favor of moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK."

The commentary said it is an intolerable challenge to the DPRK as it has thoroughly probed the truth behind the abduction issue.

DPRK leader Kim Jong-il admitted to visiting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi last September that 13 Japanese were kidnapped by the DPRK during the 1970s and 1980s, and eight of them have died of illness, accidents or natural disasters.

The five remaining Japanese went back to Japan in mid-October last year for a fortnight visit, but the Japanese government refused to send them back and demanded Pyongyang to send their families to Japan.

"The DPRK has done everything it can to settle the issue of kidnapped Japanese. However, Japan still refuses to admit the death of the kidnapped Japanese," the KCNA said.

Regarding the five survivors, the DPRK has made it clear that they can go back to Japan after discussing with their families in the DPRK, the commentary noted.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Pyongyang Blames Tokyo for Failure of Normalization Talks

Japan Gives up Talks on Ties with DPRK

China Has not Provided Weapons to Iraq Since 1990 ( 2 Messages)

SARS May not Originate from China: WHO Official ( 10 Messages)

HK Star Leslie Cheung Commits Suicide ( 41 Messages)

The War to Topple Saddam Is a Burden on the Americans ( 13 Messages)

Who Are the Real Criminals? ( 28 Messages)