The government on Thursday said it will not set a date for another round of normalization talks with North Korea unless the reclusive state indicates when the family members of five Japanese abducted decades ago and currently on their first homecoming can also come to Japan.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told a news conference that Pyongyang must state by what date it will allow the offspring of the abductees, and the American husband of one of the returnees, to come to Japan as a prerequisite for Tokyo to agree to the next ambassadorial meeting.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed Japan's determination to continue pressing North Korea about the date but indicated the road ahead may be rocky.