[USFK Forums] N. Korea to investigate Japanese suspected of being abducted [Kyodo]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Friday, February 10, 2006

Thursday February 9, 10:45 PM

N. Korea to investigate Japanese suspected of being abducted

(Kyodo) _ North Korea told Japan during bilateral talks which ended
Wednesday it would investigate the issue of missing Japanese who Japan suspects were abducted by North Korea on condition that Japan provides relevant information, Foreign Ministry officials said Thursday.

Kunio Umeda, head of the Japanese delegation to the abduction panel, told a group of abduction victims' relatives that Japan cited the names of 36 people highly suspected of being abducted and asked North Korea to provide information during discussions on the abduction issue.

The government plans to provide information about them to North Korea after discussing with ministries concerned, the officials said.

Meanwhile, North Korea denied any knowledge of North Korean agent Kim Se Ho, believed to have been involved in the abductions and whose handover Japan has been seeking, according to the officials.

But North Korea also said it will conduct an investigation to identify the person on condition Japan provides related information.

On former North Korean agent Sin Guang Su, North Korea refused to hand him over, saying it is a political issue and there are also concerns about his age and health, according to the Japanese officials.

North Korea also said it cannot accept handing over Kimihiro Uomoto, one of the Japanese nationals who hijacked a Japan Airlines plane to the North in 1970 and is suspected of having been involved in the kidnappings, the officials said.



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