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Japan PM silent on envoy's North Korea visit Japan PM Abe 'would meet' N Korea leader Kim over abductions
(about 4 hours later)
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has declined to comment on the arrival of one of his top aides in North Korea for a visit of which the purpose remains unknown. Japan's PM has said he would consider meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to try to settle a row over Pyongyang's kidnapping of Japanese nationals.
Special advisor Isao Iijima arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday, North Korea's state news agency KCNA said. Shinzo Abe said this was one of the options open to him.
Media in Japan speculate that Mr Iijima is there to try to re-open talks on Japanese abductees or arrange a possible visit by Mr Abe. He was speaking a day after Tokyo's special adviser arrived in Pyongyang, amid media reports that he would try to re-open talks on the issue.
Japan currently has no diplomatic ties with North Korea. Pyongyang has admitted abducting a number of Japanese nationals in the 1970-80s to train spies.
Mr Iijima's arrival is significant because he is a close confidant of Mr Abe, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo. Their fate has been a key priority in Tokyo's ties with Pyongyang.
He also negotiated two previous trips to Pyongyang by Japan's former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in 2002 and 2004, our correspondent adds. The two countries currently have no diplomatic relations.
'Truth wanted''Truth wanted'
Mr Abe told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday he had "no comment on reports regarding Iijima visiting North Korea". Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Mr Abe said he might consider holding talks with Mr Kim.
"However, our fundamental objective is to resolve the abduction issue, including the return of all abductees, revelation of the truth and the handover of the perpetrator to Japan," he said. "If a summit meeting is deemed as an important means in considering ways to resolve the abduction issue, we must take it into consideration as a matter of course in negotiating with them.
North Korea admitted abducting a number of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies. Their fate has been a key priority in Tokyo's ties with Pyongyang. "Our fundamental objective is to resolve the abduction issue, including the return of all abductees, revelation of the truth and the handover of the perpetrator to Japan," the prime minister added.
However, he declined to comment on the purpose of special envoy Isao Iijima's visit to North Korea.
Mr Iijima's arrival is significant because he is a close confidant of the prime minister, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo.
He also negotiated two previous trips to Pyongyang by Japan's former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in 2002 and 2004, our correspondent adds.
In 2002, after a visit to North Korea, Mr Koizumi succeeded in securing the release of five Japanese abductees. Pyongyang says the other abductees are dead, but Japan is not convinced and wants more information.In 2002, after a visit to North Korea, Mr Koizumi succeeded in securing the release of five Japanese abductees. Pyongyang says the other abductees are dead, but Japan is not convinced and wants more information.
Mr Abe vowed to find out what happened to them when he returned to power after elections in December 2012.Mr Abe vowed to find out what happened to them when he returned to power after elections in December 2012.
The visit comes amid a slight relaxing in tensions in the region, which has been on alert following North Korea's third nuclear test on 12 February. Mr Iijima's visit comes amid a slight relaxing in tensions in the region, which has been on alert following North Korea's third nuclear test on 12 February.
US detaineeUS detainee
Meanwhile North Korea says a detained American has begun to serve his sentence for subversion.Meanwhile North Korea says a detained American has begun to serve his sentence for subversion.
Pae Jun-ho, known in the US as Kenneth Bae, was last month given a 15-year term of hard labour for what Pyongyang called hostile anti-government acts.Pae Jun-ho, known in the US as Kenneth Bae, was last month given a 15-year term of hard labour for what Pyongyang called hostile anti-government acts.
A report from state-run KCNA news agency said he had started to serve it out at a "special prison", without elaborating.A report from state-run KCNA news agency said he had started to serve it out at a "special prison", without elaborating.
Mr Bae was detained last year after entering North Korea as a tourist. Pyongyang has rejected the idea it is using him as a political bargaining chip to force talks with the US.Mr Bae was detained last year after entering North Korea as a tourist. Pyongyang has rejected the idea it is using him as a political bargaining chip to force talks with the US.
In the past, Americans detained in North Korea have been freed after visits to Pyongyang by high-profile officials, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.In the past, Americans detained in North Korea have been freed after visits to Pyongyang by high-profile officials, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.