麻生外相、拉致再調査報道で「その種の話に実感ない」

　麻生太郎外相は２９日午前の閣議後の記者会見で、北朝鮮の金正日総書記が拉致問題の再調査を指示したとする報道を受けて、「北朝鮮はやることと言うことが必ずしも一致しない。その種の話を聞いて直ちにしかるべき行動に移るという実感を持っているわけではない」と述べ、北朝鮮側の動きを慎重に見極める必要があるとの認識を示した。

　一方、麻生氏は「報道が事実ならば、進展の１つではある。少なくとも『拉致問題は解決済み』という今までの北朝鮮の態度とは違うということになる」と若干の期待感も表明。その上で「『再調査をやったけど、何もありませんでした』では説得力はない。調べた結果がこちらにも分かるようにしてもらわないとダメだ」とクギを刺した。

(2007/06/29 11:53)

麻生外相、拉致再調査報道で「その種の話に実感ない」｜政策｜政治｜Sankei WEB

North Korea to probe abducted Japanese: source

By Benjamin Kang Lim

BEIJING (Reuters) - North Korea will conduct a thorough investigation into the kidnapping of Japanese citizens, a departure from its stand that the divisive issue has been settled, a source with ties to Pyongyang said on Thursday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said Tokyo will refuse economic aid to Pyongyang unless it sees progress in a dispute over citizens kidnapped decades ago to help train North Korean spies in language and culture.

"Kim Jong-il has ordered a thorough investigation into the issue ... North Korea intends to resolve this issue," the source told Reuters, requesting anonymity.

The source has provided reliable information on the secretive state's policy in the past.

Pyongyang has yet to inform Tokyo of its decision.

North Korea admitted in 2002 that its agents had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s. Five returned to Japan in 2002 after then-Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi twice visited Pyongyang for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Families of the five have also been allowed to go to Japan. "This is evidence of Kim Jong-il's sincerity," the source said.

Pyongyang has said the eight others were dead and insisted that the abductee issue was settled.

However, Tokyo wants more information about the fate of the eight and word on another four who it says were also kidnapped. It insists bilateral relations cannot be normalized until the issue, emotive for many Japanese, is resolved.

PRODUCE EVIDENCE'

The source said Kim told those involved in the kidnappings "not to sabotage investigations or cover (things) up".

"Evidence must be produced to prove deaths. DNA tests must be conducted," the source said. "Their families must be allowed to come out and say what the situation is.

"If they are still alive and do not want to return to Japan, they should come out and say so," the source said. "But there is truly no record of some of them entering North Korea."

The North Korean embassy in Beijing declined to comment.

Asked to comment, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said he did not have sufficient information to comment on the report.

"We think it is important that North Korea makes progress on the resolution of the abduction issue," said the official, who asked not to be named.

Abe has repeatedly stated Japan does not want Washington to remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism until the abductions dispute is resolved.

On Monday, Abe once again emphasized the abduction issue when asked by reporters about North Korea's statement that it would start implementing a February nuclear disarmament deal.

North Korea agreed at six-country talks in February to mothball its Yongbyon nuclear reactor in exchange for fuel oil and other benefits, including steps to lift trade sanctions and remove it from the U.S. terrorism list.

In a twist on Tuesday, a woman who had left North Korea for Japan in 2003 turned around and claimed she was kidnapped.

Japan denied the woman, To Chu-ji, had been abducted. To told a news conference in Beijing she missed her children.

To was born in Japan in 1949 and returned to North Korea in 1960 with her North Korean father and Japanese mother. She left Japan on June 21 and returned to Pyongyang via Beijing.

(Additional reporting by Elaine Lies in Tokyo)

North Korea to probe abducted Japanese: source | U.S. | Reuters

安倍首相、「北朝鮮のミサイル実験、国際社会は厳しい対応を」

【6月28日 AFP】安倍晋三首相は28日昼、前日にミサイルを実験発射した北朝鮮に対し国際社会は厳しい姿勢で臨むべきだと記者団に語った。

　北朝鮮が27日、日本海に向けて短距離ミサイルを数発発射したことを米国政府が確認。これを受けた安倍首相は、「北朝鮮は国際社会の懸念に応えなければならない。ミサイルを発射するよりも国民生活の向上に力をいれるべきではないか」と話し、厳しい対応の必要性を強調した。

　また、北朝鮮のミサイル発射は、「弾道ミサイル計画の廃棄を記した国連決議に反する」と述べた。しかし一方で、「日本の安全保障に直接の影響はない」との見解も示した。27日のミサイル発射は、国連の査察団による約5年ぶりの北朝鮮核施設査察を目前に起こった。(c)AFP
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安倍首相、「北朝鮮のミサイル実験、国際社会は厳しい対応を」 AFPBB News