Japanese leaders welcomed on Tuesday the results of a meeting Monday between representatives of the Red Cross societies of Japan and North Korea in which Pyongyang agreed to take appropriate steps if it locates any missing Japanese nationals.

North Korea also agreed during the meeting in Beijing to allow Japanese wives of North Koreans to resume their visits to Japan.

The joint statement issued by the delegations was lauded in Tokyo by several government officials, including Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, as a significant step toward solving bilateral humanitarian issues.