North Korea stands firm on abductees

North Korea accused Japan yesterday of breaking promises and trying to "stifle" it with the threat of economic sanctions as officials from the two nations ended talks apparently no closer to breaking a deadlock over the families of Japanese citizens once held captive by the communist nation.

The remarks were carried by North Korean state media shortly after a delegation of senior Japanese Foreign Ministry officials wrapped up a surprise four-day visit to Pyongyang that was viewed by some analysts as a potential first step by North Korea toward resolving an emotional bilateral dispute ahead of US-led multilateral talks in Beijing this month on its nuclear weapons program.

An unidentified North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman quoted yesterday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency also warned Japan not to bring up the issue of the abductees at the Beijing talks.

Its typically vitriolic state media made similar warnings before a first round of multilateral discussions on the nuclear crisis last August in the Chinese capital, but officials from the two nations still met on the sidelines.

Japanese government spokesmen could not be reached yesterday afternoon for comment on the meetings in Pyongyang, but media reports here suggested the two sides basically restated old positions and could agree only to continue talks at an unspecified date.

Japan has pressed North Korea for more than a year to hand over relatives of five Japanese who were kidnapped by North Korean spies in the 1970s and released in October 2002 following a landmark summit meeting that was supposed to lay the groundwork for a reconciliation between the estranged nations.

North Korea has refused, saying Japan reneged on a promise to send back the five former abductees.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman quoted yesterday by KCNA accused Japan of holding the five hostage.

North Korean officials told their Japanese counterparts the "detention of five Japanese abductees in Japan by the Japanese side" was "in breach of the promise it had made," the spokesman said.

His comments echoed reports by Japanese media saying an aide to Kim Jong Il had demanded that the five be "temporarily" returned to North Korea before it would discuss custody of members of their families -- seven North Korean-born children and one spouse -- who were left behind.

North Korea also vowed to "resolutely shut out Japan's participation" in the Beijing talks if it attempts to raise the abduction issue, KCNA said, without elaborating.

The tug-of-war over the families and subsequent revelations about North Korea's covert efforts to develop nuclear weapons has increased pressure on the Japanese government to consider sanctions.

This month Japanese lawmakers overwhelming approved a new law that makes it easier for authorities to freeze assets and restrict trade, though Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said it is too early to exercise that option.

North Korea accused Japan at the talks of "persistently resorting to its moves to stifle [North Korea] by legislating on applying sanctions," KCNA reported.

The Japanese delegation, led by led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka, was scheduled to return to Tokyo on yesterday night and brief Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi.

Japan is also demanding more information about eight other Japanese citizens who North Korea said died in captivity, and two others whose fates are unknown.

North Korea has acknowledged its spies kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to steal their identities and master their language.