Nakai: Inviting former N.Korean agent important

Japan's cabinet minister in charge of the abduction issues says he believes inviting a former North Korean agent to Japan is important, but collecting the latest information on North Korea comes first.

National Public Safety Commission Chairman Hiroshi Nakai made the remarks one day after NHK interviewed Kim Hyung Hee.

Kim worked as a North Korean agent, but now lives in South Korea.

In the interview Kim said she wants to meet the parents of Japanese abductee Megumi Yokota and to tell them everything she knows about their daughter who was taken to the North more than 30 years ago.

After watching the interview, Yokota's parents also said they want to meet Kim as soon as possible.

Nakai said he thinks it is important to invite Kim who can shed more light on the issue and help Japanese remember what North Korea did.

He also said he understands how the families and relatives of the abductees desperately want to find out whether their loved ones are still alive, and whether they can bring them back to Japan.

However, Nakai said the Japanese government first needs the latest information on North Korea, and that the government will decide on the next step accordingly.

2009/11/21 22:11(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)