The Radio Regulatory Council, an advisory committee to the internal affairs and communications minister, Wednesday approved a ministerial directive to NHK to increase its reporting on North Korea's abductions of Japanese on its shortwave radio programs.

The ministry said communications minister Yoshihide Suga will give the order to the public broadcaster soon. It would be the first postwar direct state order regarding specific broadcasting content.

Article 33 of the Broadcast Law, which took effect in 1950, says the minister has the authority to determine what NHK can broadcast overseas.