Japan welcomes meeting between Kim, Taguchi's family+

TOKYO, March 11 Kyodo - The Japanese government on Wednesday welcomed the meeting between a former
North Korean agent and family members of a Japanese abductee in South Korea,
while Prime Minister Taro Aso expressed appreciation for Seoul's cooperation in
helping fulfill the family members' longtime wish.

''I think the South Korean government had to go through many things. I
appreciate the cooperation in arranging (the meeting),'' Aso told reporters.
''Although I don't think this will have a significant effect on resolving (the
abduction issue), I think one of their longtime wishes was achieved,'' Aso
said, adding that Tokyo will continue to make all-out efforts to resolve the
issue.
Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura called the meeting ''the
first step toward seeking the truth and resolution of the abduction issue.''
''The meeting has made us confirm once again that the abduction issue is a
common issue between Japan and South Korea and we would like to further
strengthen bilateral ties to resolve it,'' he said at a press conference.
Kawamura added that the Japanese government needs to strongly urge North Korea
to launch a thorough reinvestigation into the abduction cases as agreed with
Japan last August.
Earlier in the day, former North Korean agent Kim Hyon Hui met with the brother
and son of Japanese abductee Yaeko Taguchi in Busan.
While Kim, 47, told Shigeo Iizuka, 70, and Koichiro Iizuka, 32, that she
believes Taguchi is still alive, Kawamura said it is difficult to determine if
Taguchi is really alive as Kim said, but added the remarks would give the
family members a strong sense of hope.
==Kyodo