 Chief Cabinet Secretary says government takes JCP proposal on talks with North Korea seriously The House of Representatives special committee on abduction on December 10 discussed the results of DNA tests that found that the ashes North Korea gave to Japan as the remains of Yokota Megumi (who was abducted in 1977) were not hers. In the committee meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hosoda Hiroyuki stated that the government will sincerely consider the proposal Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo made the previous day that the government should ask North Korea to appoint a negotiator who is well informed of the abduction and has the authority and ability to resolve the problem. Hosoda stated this in response to JCP representative Akamine Seiken, who said that North Korea showed itself to be insincere and irresponsible by producing false material concerning human life. The special committee adopted a resolution urging the government to consider imposing sanctions against Korea, stopping humanitarian aid, and other measures. The JCP abstained from voting on the resolution. At a news conference later in the day, Akamine said, "We agree with the paragraph that expressed 'indignation' at North Korea's insincere attitude. However, the need now is to place importance on continuing talks with North Korean representatives who are responsive to the resolution of the abduction issue. The resolution does not call for this important direction to be taken. That's why we abstained from voting." (end) |