Japan will seek to make progress on the question of the alleged abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents when the Red Cross societies of the two nations meet in Beijing on Monday, Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said Friday.
"Humanitarian issues will, of course, be the primary focus and we will undertake the talks with progress in mind," Kono told reporters.
At the Red Cross meeting, Japan intends to convey its decision announced Tuesday to resume food aid to North Korea after a lapse of three years in a bid to encourage Pyongyang to approach the negotiating table and cooperate on the alleged abduction issue.