Tokyo seeks to keep pressure on N. Korea over abductionsUNITED NATIONS -- The government minister responsible for the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea during the 1970s and '80s says he believes growing international pressure will eventually lead to a return of the abductees or their remains. The Japanese government has officially identified 17 of its citizens who have been abducted by North Korea and is investigating another 883 cases of possible abductions, Kato said. In 2002, North Korea admitted to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and '80s to train spies in Japanese language and culture. Five were allowed to return to Japan the same year, and North Korea says the others died or never entered the North. Kato says Japan is working under the assumption all of the abductees are still alive and must be returned home.

Source: The China Post December 03, 2016 16:35 UTC