Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, February 14, 2004
Japan, DPRK agree more talks on abduction issue
Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have agreed to continue negotiations on the abducted Japanese issue, Japanese media reported Saturday.
Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have agreed to continue negotiations on the abducted Japanese issue, Japanese media reported Saturday.
Negotiators from both sides held talks Friday in Pyongyang on the abduction issue and DPRK's nuclear development program.
"The talks did not collapse. We agreed to continue dialogue," Kyodo News quoted a government source as saying.
The DPRK admitted at a summit meeting in 2002 that it abducted 13 Japanese from late 1970s to early 1980s.
The DPRK said eight of them had died, a claim that Japan doubts,and let the remaining return to Japan for a visit while keeping back their family members. The five remained in Japan after the visit.
Japan has been asking the DPRK to allow a reunion. The DPRK accuses Japan of reneging on promise to return the five people, but has reportedly agreed to Japan's demand provided they pick up their kin at Pyongyang.
At the talks, the DPRK also slammed Japan's newly adopted bill which enable Tokyo to impose unilateral sanctions on Pyongyang, according media reports.
The Japanese delegation is scheduled to return on Saturday.