Senior Vice Foreign Minister Masatoshi Abe indicated Thursday that the government may need to provide assistance for Japanese who emigrated to the Dominican Republic in the 1950s under a government program.

"I now realize the hardships of the emigrants," Abe said. "It is understandable that they are dissatisfied."

A total of 1,320 Japanese emigrated to the Dominican Republic under the program, 500 of whom are still living there.

Some 180 have sued the government over its emigration policies in the 1950s. They are seeking 3.1 billion yen in compensation, saying they did not receive the rich farmland promised by the government and had to endure numerous difficulties after moving there.

Abe said his comments were not made in reference to the suit, but he did say "the lawsuit needs to be continued."

He visited the Dominican Republic from Dec. 3 to 6 and met with emigrants to exchange views on the suit. He said they asked for Japan's assistance to construct roads and other facilities in and around their settlement areas.

The government has claimed it bears no responsibility for their disappointment, saying the problem is between them and the Dominican Republic.