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TOKYO: Japan may keep its sanctions on North Korea no matter whether Pyongyang takes action in accordance with a fresh six-party deal to stem its nuclear drive, the foreign minister said Sunday.
Japan hailed the deal last week in which Pyongyang pledged to declare its nuclear programmes and disable its main atomic reactor by the end of the year, but refused to lift economic sanctions.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said the stance would not change unless North Korea comes clean on the fate of Japanese nationals it had kidnapped in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies in the Japanese language and culture.
"Progress in relations between Japan and North Korea is very important," Komura told public broadcaster NHK when asked whether the government would consider lifting sanctions if North Korea acts under the nuclear deal.
"Their taking action by December 31 is mostly about nuclear issues. We will consider whether to ease pressure by seeing what concrete action they take in the Japan-North Korea relations," Komura said.
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who replaced Shinzo Abe as premier last month, has emphasised the need for dialogue with Kim Jong-Il's regime, in contrast to his predecessor, who built his political career on acting tough on the North.
But Komura said Japan's tough line to North Korea "will not change drastically" because of the government transition.
Japan imposed the sanctions after North Korea conducted its first nuclear bomb test a year ago. The measures are to expire in October but the government is set to extend them by another six months.
There remains strong public resentment in Japan about North Korea's refusal to earnestly discuss a row over the abductions. Pyongyang insists the issue has already been resolved.
North Korea admitted in 2002 to the abductions and has since returned five of kidnap victims and their spouses and children. But it has insisted the other abductees were all dead without providing convincing evidence.
Japan believes there are more kidnapped survivors who are kept under wraps probably because they know North Korea's secrets. - AFP/ac
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