N. Korea intends to 'arrange meeting' between abductee Matsumoto, kin

TOTTORI, Japan, Nov. 9 Kyodo - A senior North Korean government official has told a Chinese person involved in
a trade business that the government official intends to arrange a meeting
between Kyoko Matsumoto, who was abducted by the North in 1977, and her family,
Matsumoto's brother Hajime said Sunday.
The 61-year-old brother was also told by the Chinese person that Matsumoto's
husband and a Japanese couple, who are all suspected to have been abducted by
North Korea, are at the same workplace with Matsumoto.
Hajime received the information in a meeting with the Chinese man in early
October, which was arranged by the Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese
Probably Related to North Korea.
''It has become increasingly likely that Kyoko is alive. It's hard to tell how
true the information is, but I would go to meet with her if asked,'' Hajime
Matsumoto said.
The investigation commission said earlier this month a woman who may be
Matsumoto conveyed in mid-October a message that includes information only she
could know.
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said Sunday on a Fuji Television program,
''If the information (about the message) is true, Ms. Matsumoto is doing fine
and it's a good thing. We will make further efforts to achieve a resolution
through diplomatic channels.''
Matsumoto, who disappeared from Tottori Prefecture at age 29, was recognized by
the Japanese government as an abductee in 2006, making the total number of such
people listed 17. The Japanese government says that North Korea has denied she
ever entered the country.
==Kyodo