[USFK Forums] Police to set up special office for N. Korea's abductions [Kyodo]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Police to set up special office for N. Korea's abductions

Monday March 27, 4:59 PM

(Kyodo) _ The National Police Agency will open an office Saturday to specifically handle the abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea, agency officials said Monday.

More than a dozen officers at the new office will instruct prefectural police forces on the investigation of such abduction cases, share information and cooperate with them, the officials said.

The office will also serve as a liaison for abduction victims and their relatives, as well as for government departments and associated civic groups.

The office will be set up under the Security Bureau as part of the police agency's organizational restructuring, all effective on Saturday.

Among other offices to be set up are an information analysis office aimed at swiftly solving serious criminal cases through comprehensive crime analysis, including criminal tactics.

The agency will also create new posts including one for supervising the investigation of cyber crime and one for strengthening international cooperation in police investigations.

The Japanese police have recently put Sin Guang Su, a former North Korean agent, and Choe Sung Chol, an active one, on the international wanted list for alleged involvement in abductions of four Japanese citizens.

Japan believes North Korea abducted 16 Japanese nationals during the 1970s and 80s. Five of the abductees have returned to Japan, and Tokyo has been demanding Pyongyang hand over the rest.

Of the 11, Pyongyang claims eight have died since entering North Korea and the remaining three never entered the country.

The abduction issue has been a barrier to Japan and North Korea normalizing diplomatic relations.



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