Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso on Monday said North Korea has kidnapped 50 Japanese nationals, including 16 whom Japan recognized earlier.

Of the 16, five have been repatriated to Japan and the remaining eleven are missing.

Aso said his government has information on 34 nationals who were allegedly abducted by North Korea and that it must work to repatriate them through dialogue with Pyongyang.

Meanwhile, a Seoul official said Tokyo will proceed with sending 125,000 tons of food aid to the North regardless of the results of the North Korea-Japan talks Saturday in Beijing.