Inter-Korea
Tokyo to Ask N.Korea for Official Stance on Fake Remains
Written: 2004-12-13 17:51:55 / Updated: 0000-00-00 00:00:00
The Japanese government has decided to ask for Pyongyang's official response over a recent fiasco concerning North Korea's delivery of deceased remains that were supposed to be Japanese civilians abducted by the North in the past.
The Kyodo News agency quoted Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda as saying Monday that Tokyo would ask for Pyongyang's explanation after concluding investigations on the matter this month and delivering Tokyo's stance on the matter.
Results of DNA tests last week, showed the remains handed over by the North, were unrelated to one of the 10 abductees, a woman who was apparently kidnapped from Japan at the age of 13.
Tokyo said the bones belonged to a number of other people, sparking widespread indignation and mounting pressure in Japan to impose economic sanctions on the communist state.
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