Japanese government officials contacted North Korea last November and proposed that the two sides discuss the retrieval of the remains of Japanese people who died in North Korea and the establishment of a cemetery for them, sources close to Japanese-North Korean relations said Sunday.
The North Korean side did not respond negatively to the idea, the sources added.
The officials appeared to be hoping that the proposed discussions would serve as a catalyst for Japan and North Korea, which do not maintain diplomatic ties, to resume stalled bilateral talks aimed at resolving the long-standing issue of the past abduction of Japanese nationals. (Mainichi)
Japanese government officials contacted North Korea last November and proposed that the two sides discuss the retrieval of the remains of Japanese people who died in North Korea and the establishment of a cemetery for them, sources close to Japanese-North Korean relations said Sunday.
The North Korean side did not respond negatively to the idea, the sources added.
The officials appeared to be hoping that the proposed discussions would serve as a catalyst for Japan and North Korea, which do not maintain diplomatic ties, to resume stalled bilateral talks aimed at resolving the long-standing issue of the past abduction of Japanese nationals. (Mainichi)