Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations,Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Issue of the Abduction of Japanese Nationals

February 24, 2005

Today, February 24, through the embassy channel in Beijing, North Korea sent to Japan a reply to Japan's rebuttal document which was conveyed to North Korea on February 10 concerning a memorandum as of January 24 (original text in Hangul) from North Korea to Japan on the issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals.
In the reply, North Korea, stating, "Japan's rebuttal lacks scientific reasoning and is not acceptable at all," and "we have no intention of holding discussions with the Government of Japan," says that North Korea calls on the Government of Japan to return the bone fragments which North Korea claims are a part of Ms. Megumi Yokota's remains as soon as possible and to punish those responsible, and that North Korea will choose to take appropriate actions in response to the "stringent measures" mentioned by the Government of Japan.
On the information and material evidence in general submitted by North Korea on the occasion of the third round of the Japan-North Korea Working-level Consultations in November 2004, Japan, on December 25, 2004, reported the test results to North Korea and protested against North Korea's presentation. Although Japan has, since then, requested North Korea to take prompt and satisfying measures, North Korea's response this time is far from meeting Japan's requirements.
The Government of Japan again urges North Korea to immediately allow the survivors to return home and clarify the true facts. As it has announced already, the Government of Japan will have to take "stringent measures" toward North Korea. Japan reiterates that this will bring no benefit to North Korea. Taking this opportunity, Japan strongly urges North Korea to return immediately and unconditionally to the Six-Party Talks to discuss the nuclear issue and take a positive approach towards its solution.

(END)

Back to Index