A Japanese daily says the Democratic Party of Japan and North Korea have held several discussions in China since last summer on the abduction of Japanese nationals by the North three decades ago.

The Sankei Shimbun said Pyongyang hinted at the possibility that some of the abductees are alive, adding the two countries could begin official discussions before Japan’s election in July to select members of its Diet’s upper house.

Sankei said the party and the North began discussing the matter last summer before Japan’s general elections. Contact between both sides gained steam after party leader Yukio Hatoyama became prime minister in September.

The party repeatedly demanded in the meetings that the North disclose the whereabouts of the kidnapped people.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry official said the safety of the abductees has not been confirmed. But North Korea is trying to read the mind of Japan’s ruling party through the contacts.