Lead: Japan welcomes meeting between Kim, Taguchi's family+

TOKYO, March 11 Kyodo -
(EDS: ADDING INFO IN LAST 4 GRAFS)
The Japanese government on Wednesday welcomed the meeting in South Korea
between a former North Korean agent and family members of a Japanese abductee,
while Prime Minister Taro Aso expressed appreciation for Seoul's cooperation in
helping to 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.
Among other abductees' relatives, meanwhile, Kenichi Ichikawa, 63, brother of
Shuichi Ichikawa who went missing at the age of 23, said, ''We were also given
a sense of hope (by Kim's remarks).''
Fumiyo Saito, 63, whose brother Kaoru Matsuki disappeared when he was 26, said,
''The relatives of the abductees are getting older. I expect the government to
enable us to directly talk with the North Korean side.''
Toru Hasuike, 54, brother of returned abductee Kaoru Hasuike, 51, said,
however, the meeting will work negatively for resolving the abduction issue.
''The information from 20 years ago (provided by Kim) is too old,'' Hasuike
said. ''I also doubt if North Korea will become willing to return the abductees
after it was harshly criticized in front of the media.''
==Kyodo