The U.N. Human Rights Commission (UNHCR) has decided to reopen an investigation on Japanese nationals who were kidnapped to North Korea, diplomatic sources said Thursday.
Japan filed a request to the commission's Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance on Nov 6, after North Korea admitted in September that 13 Japanese nationals were either kidnapped or lured to North Korea over a seven-year period in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Five of them returned to Japan on Oct 15 and North Korea has said the remaining eight have died.The Japanese government, noticing discrepancies in death certificates provided by North Korea, wants the North Korea to provide more information on the circumstances surrounding the eight abductees.
Diplomatic sources said the Human Rights Commission notified the Japanese government on Wednesday on its decision to reopen an investigation on the eight Japanese.
The Japanese government welcomed the Human Rights Commission's decision, saying it will be a boost to the probe on the eight.
The relatives of the abducted Japanese filed a similar request with the U.N. panel in April last year. The panel suspended its inquiry after Pyongyang, which until last September had all along denied any kidnapping, refused to cooperate. (Kyodo News)
Republished courtesy of Japan Today: http://www.japantoday.com
Please also see other articles on the abductees in our International Law section.
Japan filed a request to the commission's Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance on Nov 6, after North Korea admitted in September that 13 Japanese nationals were either kidnapped or lured to North Korea over a seven-year period in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Five of them returned to Japan on Oct 15 and North Korea has said the remaining eight have died.The Japanese government, noticing discrepancies in death certificates provided by North Korea, wants the North Korea to provide more information on the circumstances surrounding the eight abductees.
Diplomatic sources said the Human Rights Commission notified the Japanese government on Wednesday on its decision to reopen an investigation on the eight Japanese.
The Japanese government welcomed the Human Rights Commission's decision, saying it will be a boost to the probe on the eight.
The relatives of the abducted Japanese filed a similar request with the U.N. panel in April last year. The panel suspended its inquiry after Pyongyang, which until last September had all along denied any kidnapping, refused to cooperate. (Kyodo News)
Republished courtesy of Japan Today: http://www.japantoday.com
Please also see other articles on the abductees in our International Law section.